The Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda is struggling to retain credibility in a tussle over payouts it claims are due to an influential journalist who had a vehicle accident.

The journalist in question is Benon Herbert Oluka, who broke his left arm in a hired vehicle last year. Since then, the Insurance Company of East Africa, based in the capital of Kampala, has allegedly insisted on not paying him compensation under its policy. The Ugandan press views the saga as a testimony to the weakness of the regulator.

Possibly with this in mind, the IRA dictated in the last few days that ICEA Group ought to pay Oluka. The outcome, however, still appears to be in doubt.