It was not easy for the Judiciary top leadership to convince Lira Resident Judge Duncan Gaswaga that his driver is a threat to his life.
From our highly placed sources in Judiciary have exclusively revealed to TV10GanoMazima that since Justice Geoffrey Namundi’s driver Stanley Kisambira protested on social media threatening to intentionally cause the death of his principal and the bodyguard on grounds of poor working condition, the judiciary has been following the behaviour and actions of the entire institution’s drivers.
In a 5 minutes and 24 seconds recording, Kisambira revealed that all judiciary staff including judges’ pay was increased based on the grounds that judges are not allowed to do business and go to bars to enjoy life.
He added that surprisingly, their drivers were the only one of all judiciary staff whose salaries were not increased. He complained that they are not going to live on Shs.200,000 which is given to them per month because it is too little compared to the current cost of living.
“Sincerely speaking I am very annoyed. I joined the judiciary in 2008 but up to now, I’m still getting Shs.200,000. What am I working for when I have children in schools and renting? How do I survive? What do you people want us to do? Quote me well, I’m mentally stable but in pain. Judiciary please. I’m working for you, all those listening to me should know that I’m not mad but because of the tough situation we go through, people make prophecies before they die,” he said.
He added, “You are talking about that security guard who killed a minister but I’m telling you I can kill both the judge and his security guard including myself by intentionally running into a trailer. How can people get Shs3m, Shs4m, yet for me (as a driver) I’m getting Shs200,000?”
However, Judiciary Permanent Secretary and Secretary to Judiciary Pius Bigirimans rubbished Kisambira’s allegations noting that disciplinary action were going to be taken against him.
He was formally charged and is currently battling with criminal charges at Buganda Road Court.
Sources disclosed that since that incident, all judiciary drivers and bodyguards were put under strict monitoring.
It is through this monitoring that it was recently established that Justice Gaswaga’s driver was in frequent communication with Kisambira and was very vocal on the drivers’ WhatsApp group.
He is always posting messages encouraging his colleagues to fight for Kisambira claiming that he is their hero who publicly without fear cames out and spoke the truth to their bosses.
The said driver is also accused of mobilizing fellow drivers to support their own Kisambira financially because he was interdicted immediately when he was charged at Buganda Road Court.
Judiciary insiders told TV10GanoMazima that when this intelligence information reached one of the top judiciary bosses, he contacted Justice Gaswaga and pleaded with him to be very careful because it seems his driver is a threat to his life.
By that time (last year), Justice Gaswaga’s bodyguard was on leave and his driver was also working as his bodyguard, especially in the morning when he moved out of his home to do physical exercises.
“The judge told everything to his driver and asked him whether he has a gun. The man denied everything and told him that may be the gun they are talking about is the one which the judge has. The judge communicated back to the person who cautioned him and told him that the man is very innocent,” the insider said.
He added that the driver was very open to the judge and told him that he always speaks to Kisambira because he is a longtime friend and he sacrificed to speak to the authorities about their plight.
Insiders divulged that a week later, the driver was served with a transfer letter in which he was given two days to report to Eastern Uganda to drive one of the magistrates, a move he protested.
“He told Justice Gaswaga that at his level, he cannot drive a magistrate. He told him that holds a degree in accountancy and is pursuing a masters at Makerere University. He refused to go to Eastern Uganda and has informed his bosses,” the insider disclosed.
When contacted, His Worship James Ereemye the Judiciary spokesperson said that he is not aware of the development and promised to return back to us after consulting the concerned bosses.
We waited and at the time of publishing this story, he has not yet given us feedback.
TV10GanoMazima was also informed that the development comes after a directive was issued to beef up security to city magistrates who feel that their life is under threat.
Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi’s security was recently beefed up. Kayizzi is a brother to a top National Resistance Movement (NRM) boss.
The security of Gladys Kamasanyu also a Magistrate at Buganda Road Court security was beefed up after former Makerere University senior lecturer Stella Nyanzi attacked her and threw an empty water bottle at her.
Also, the security of Entebbe Chief Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis who is also a relative to Constitutional and Justice Minister Norbert Mao was beefed up.
At Buganda Road Court, Court users were stopped from entering Court premises with food and eats.
The move was supported by Justice Benjamin Kabiito the head of the Judicial Service Commission who noted that they have powers to make decisions to protect the lives of judicial officers and other court users.
