The High Court in Lira has directed the Attorney General (AG) to pay Shs 236,127,000 in taxed legal costs to Betty Akello and John Francis Ongia over livestock stolen by soldiers during the Lango sub-region insurgency. The ruling marks a significant step in a decade-long legal battle for compensation.
The case was initiated in 2011 when Akello and Sam Obua, representing 580 other victims, sued the government for failing to protect their property during the insurgency. The plaintiffs alleged that government soldiers looted their livestock, violating constitutional guarantees for the protection of citizens and their property.
In a 2014 ruling, the court found in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding general damages of Shs 4 million and exemplary damages of Shs 1 million per claimant, with a 25% annual interest from February 24, 2011, until full payment. However, implementation of the judgment stalled for years.
In 2015, additional plaintiffs, including Ongia, joined the case, seeking similar compensation. In recent proceedings, the AG challenged the costs awarded by Assistant Registrar Ssalaamu Godfrey Ngobi, specifically disputing the instruction fees granted to the plaintiffs’ lawyers.
Justice George Okello dismissed the AG’s objections, upholding the taxed costs. The court ruled that Shs 136,127,000 be allocated for various costs and Shs 100,000,000 for instruction fees, bringing the total to Shs 236,127,000. The court rejected the inclusion of value-added tax (VAT) on the instruction fee due to the absence of a VAT certificate from the Uganda Revenue Authority.
Justice Okello exercised his authority under section 68(1) of the Advocates Act to resolve the matter conclusively, avoiding further delays in the litigation process. The court’s decision affirmed the plaintiffs’ entitlement to recover legal costs incurred in their pursuit of justice.
This ruling highlights the government’s accountability for failing to protect citizens during the insurgency and provides closure for victims after years of legal challenges.