Kampala — THE Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, has ordered the Attorney General (AG) to explain the Government's failure to pay terminal benefits to over 800 former operatives of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).

Nsibambi's directive followed a petition by the operatives, who claimed that their efforts to get their benefits were being frustrated by the Office of Civil Litigation.

The claimants, who were laid off between 1992 and 1995, are demanding sh57b, according to their chairman Lawrence Kiwanuka.

In 2004, the former ISO staff sued the Government over the non-payment of terminal benefits.

In 2005, the High Court ruled in their favour and ordered the Government to pay the costs, including sh500,000 as general damages for transport, medical allowances and pension.

In response to the petition, Nsibambi said the Attorney General had filed a notice to appeal against the 2005 ruling but had never lodged it.

"I request you to tell me why for three years you have not lodged this appeal, an action which has caused suffering to the petitioners.

"Please give me a response in two weeks. Justice delayed is justice denied," Nsibambi said in a September 2, letter to the Attorney General.

In their petition to Nsibambi, the former ISO operatives complained that the Attorney General had caused them a lot of frustration and suffering.

They said after the initial court ruling, the Attorney General filed a notice of appeal, which was never followed up.

The petition said the former spies were living in abject poverty.

"Many of our colleagues have died, living widows and orphans. The surviving ones are jobless and, therefore, cannot afford to support our families."