Court battle saves Gender Ministry official from termination

What the report says

The High Court in Kampala has set aside the termination of a Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development official, Osborn Turyasigura, after ruling that the process used by the ministry was unlawful and unfair. According to the court decision reported by Nile Post, Justice Simon Peter Kinobe found that Turyasigura’s probation had been extended without a valid legal basis and that he was not given a fair hearing before being dismissed over allegations that his academic documents were forged.

The case stemmed from a challenge to a decision taken by former Gender Minister Betty Amongi. Turyasigura had been appointed in April 2025 on a contract that included a six-month probation period. The ministry later extended that probation in March 2026, but the judge said the reason given for the extension did not fall within the grounds allowed by public service rules. The court held that the minister acted outside her lawful powers.

The dispute also involved claims that Turyasigura used forged academic credentials to obtain the post. The government said investigations pointed to inconsistencies in documents linked to his Master’s degree, while Turyasigura denied wrongdoing and said he had not been given a chance to respond before the termination. Justice Kinobe said serious allegations of this kind must be tested through a fair process before they can be used to end employment.

The court quashed the April 1, 2026 termination decision and barred the government from enforcing it. It declined to award damages, and each side was ordered to bear its own costs. The ruling highlights the requirement for public employers to follow lawful procedure and natural justice when handling appointments and disciplinary action.