After nearly a decade of fighting for justice, Grace Tibihikira Makoko can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The Court of Appeal has ruled in her favour, awarding her Shs 573 million in compensation following what it found to be an unlawful and unjust dismissal by her former employer, Standard Chartered Bank.
Makoko’s story is one of professional triumph, abrupt downfall, and unwavering resilience. She joined the bank in 1995 as a clerk, a young woman eager to prove herself in the demanding world of finance. Over the next two decades, through grit and performance, she climbed the corporate ladder to become the regional head of financial markets and wholesale banking for East Africa one of the most senior roles held by a Ugandan woman at the time.
But in 2015, everything changed. Without a hearing or warning, her career came to a sudden halt. “I was told to leave without explanation,” she shared in court. “It felt like everything I had worked for was discarded in an instant.”
Makoko’s dismissal not only affected her professional life but deeply impacted her personally. Friends and colleagues distanced themselves. Her name, once associated with leadership and trust, became a subject of whispered conversations. She felt betrayed.
Determined to fight for her dignity, Makoko took her case to the Industrial Court, which in 2020 ruled in her favour awarding her Shs 1 billion in damages and $108,750 (roughly Shs 398 million) for unvested shares. The court acknowledged that she had been wrongfully dismissed, without due process, after over 20 years of dedicated service.
Standard Chartered Bank, however, appealed the ruling, arguing that the compensation was excessive. Last week, the Court of Appeal delivered its verdict. While it upheld the finding that her dismissal was unlawful, it revised the compensation downward awarding her Shs 500 million in general damages and $20,000 (about Shs 73 million) for the shares. The interest rates were also lowered.
The judges, Muzamiru Kibeedi, Christopher Gashirabake, and Oscar Kihika, explained that although the bank’s actions were unjust, the initial award had overcompensated Makoko, given she had only eight months left on her contract. Still, they acknowledged the emotional and professional cost of what she endured.
“Her long service, leadership role, and the manner of her termination were all considered,” the ruling read. “She deserved compensation but one that reflected fairness, not windfall.”
For Makoko, this judgment isn’t just about money. It’s about reclaiming her name, restoring her professional reputation, and sending a message to employers about accountability and fairness.
“I didn’t fight this battle for myself alone,” she said in a statement through her lawyers. “I did it for every worker who’s been silenced, cast aside, or mistreated by systems that should protect them.”
Legal experts believe the case could influence how corporate dismissals are handled in Uganda going forward particularly for high-level executives. It reinforces the importance of due process, even at the highest levels of employment.
As Makoko steps into a new chapter of her life, her case remains a powerful reminder: that justice, though slow, can still prevail and that even in the face of power, one voice can make a difference.