Healer Sues Ugandan Speaker

A traditional healer is suing the Ugandan Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga. Damiano Akuze, is seeking Ush200 million in compensation based on allegations that Kadaga breached a contract with the healer.

According to Akuze he used his spiritual powers in order to help Kadaga secure her government posts, claiming to have been initially approached by the now Ugandan speaker in 1990, just days before she was appointed to a ministerial position. While he claims Kadaga paid him Ush1 million in October 2017, he alleges that there is an outstanding balance due of Ush204.5 million as she pledged to construct him a house, provide him with a tipper truck, a plot of land, and four cows, among other items.

In his suit Akuze states, “The defendant (Ms Kadaga) requested the plaintiff (Mr Akuze) to work on her so that she would be given a big job in government and also be driven in a convoy like a president. The defendant did not have money to pay the plaintiff at the time. So the plaintiff accepted to work on her on condition that she would pay the plaintiff as soon as she got the job.”

Prior to her appointment as Speaker, Kadaga has served as a lawmaker, an East African Assembly delegate and a minister. She is the firs woman to be elected Speaker in Uganda and has served in the position since May 2011.