Juba Court Delay Stirs Concern
An eagerly awaited ruling in the dispute between UAP Insurance South Sudan and a group of dismissed local employees was postponed on Monday after the presiding judge admitted misplacing key documents.
The decision adds one more twist to a case already marked by repeated adjournments and changes on the bench.
Shifting Judicial Bench Adds Complexity
Initially overseen by Judge Francis Amum, the file moved to Judge Peter Muzemel following a routine transfer within the judiciary, according to counsel Marko Reech, who speaks for the former staff.
Reech said Muzemel scheduled 29 August for the ruling but on arriving in court he told parties he had ‘forgotten’ the file and needed more time to complete his review.
UAP Exit Strategy Under Scrutiny
The lawyer fears that UAP’s announced 24-month wind-down could complicate enforcement, as most branch offices have already locked their doors, leaving only a skeleton management team in Juba.
In July the insurer, part of Old Mutual Group, said a strategic review found market conditions unsustainable and capital needs too high, though it pledged to honour existing policies until expiry.
Workers Seek Assurance, Not Delay
Former staff assert the closure appears timed to sidestep an expected compensation order; they filed an injunction request on 7 July under Sections 166 and 167 of the Civil Procedure Act.
Reech argues that continuity matters: ‘The judge who follows the file from day one understands every nuance; replacing him risks an incomplete picture,’ he told reporters outside the courthouse.
Next Hearing Set for Monday
Judge Muzemel asked both sides to return next Monday, promising the verdict will be ready provided the missing paperwork is retrieved and reviewed over the weekend.
Until then, the dismissed employees and their former employer remain locked in a waiting game that mirrors broader uncertainties within South Sudan’s evolving insurance market.