Stanley Kisambira, a driver to Justice Godfrey Namundi in Mbale High Court, is facing scrutiny from the Judiciary after he released an audio clip on social media, threatening the lives of individuals under his care.
In the viral clip, Kisambira expressed frustration over salary disparities within the judiciary, stating that he has been earning a mere 200,000 Shillings since joining the justice system in 2008.
Now, the Permanent Secretary to the Judiciary, Dr. Pius Bigirimana, addressed journalists in Kampala, emphasizing that Kisambira should have followed the proper channels outlined in the Public Service Standing Orders to address his concerns rather than resorting to social media.
Bigirimana asserted that Kisambira will be held accountable for his actions, highlighting that the claims made in the audio clip were not only false but baseless. He further revealed that Kisambira has received over 16 million Shillings for his services since August of the previous year, contradicting the driver's allegations.
Bigirimana stressed that working in public service requires adherence to regulations and professionalism, stating that he promptly summoned Kisambira to his office and sent an official letter denoting the driver's utterances as gross misconduct.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that inciting violence and threatening to cause an accident intentionally are serious offenses, while spreading false information about salary discrepancies goes against the Public Service Standing Orders.
Kisambira has been given five days to explain his act of gross misconduct in response to the letter dated May 16, which was copied to high-ranking officials within the judiciary. Failure to provide a satisfactory explanation could result in disciplinary measures, including dismissal from the Judiciary.
In a statement released by Judiciary spokesperson Jamson Karemani on Monday, it was clarified that drivers now receive a consolidated monthly allowance, paid out quarterly, in addition to their salary. The total combined monthly payment for a driver exceeds one million Shillings. The statement also affirmed that all judiciary staff members, including drivers, have access to health insurance services.
On social media platforms, Kisambira has been praised for shedding light on the low salaries of judiciary personnel. A fundraising campaign has been initiated to support Kisambira in obtaining legal representation and welfare.
The campaign highlights Kisambira's role as a whistleblower who courageously exposed the exploitation within the judiciary. The accompanying flyer emphasizes that "Kisambira is ready to be punished or sacked but won't be silenced."
Following his arrest on Monday, Kisambira remains in police custody at the Central Police Station in Kampala as authorities investigate his claims.
