[2001] UGHC 5

[2001] UGHC 5

The court found that the plaintiffs provided credible evidence, including testimony from the corporation's Managing Director, that the article's allegations were false and that no impropriety occurred. The defendants failed to adduce any evidence or submissions to prove the truth of the article or to establish the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2001] UGHC 5
Parties
Plaintiff: Charles Sabiiti & Others; Defendant: Teddy Seezi Cheeye
Court
High Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Civil Suit No. 516 of 1997
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Judgment
Outcome
Judgment for the plaintiffs.
Legal Topics
Defamation, Libel, Damages Assessment, Fair Comment, Malice, Burden of Proof
Source Language
en
Tort Law Civil Procedure Defamation Libel Damages Assessment Fair Comment Malice Burden of Proof

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Charles Sabiiti & Others

Plaintiff

Teddy Seezi Cheeye

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Suit / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the article complained of was true.
  2. 2 Whether the article was a fair comment on a matter of public interest.
  3. 3 Whether the article was defamatory of the plaintiffs.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the plaintiffs provided credible evidence, including testimony from the corporation's Managing Director, that the article's allegations were false and that no impropriety occurred. The defendants failed to adduce any evidence or submissions to prove the truth of the article or to establish the defence of fair comment. Applying established legal principles, the court held that the article was not true, did not qualify as fair comment on a matter of public interest, and was defamatory. The article lowered the plaintiffs' reputation in the eyes of reasonable persons, as evidenced by the testimony of colleagues and family. The court also found malice in the absence of any...

Court Disposition

Judgment for the plaintiffs.

Orders

  • Each plaintiff is awarded UGX 6,000,000 as general damages.
  • Each plaintiff is awarded UGX 3,000,000 as exemplary/punitive damages.