KCCA councilor remanded over defamation

By Farooq Kasule and Betty Amamukirori

MAKINDYE division councilor, Allan Ssewanyana popularly known as ‘Omusajja wa Bwiino’ has been charged with defamation and remanded to Luzira Prison.

Ssewanyana on Friday appeared before Buganda Road Court presided over by Grade One Magistrate, Pamella Ocaya and denied allegations of defaming a local betting company known as Top Bet Limited.

It’s alleged that the suspect kept on spreading rumors, claiming that the company cheats its clients, adding that they have also failed to pay him and other fifteen clients. He was charged with four counts of defamation.

“Your worship as a sports consultant, I have received many complaints from its customers that the company on several occasions refuses to pay its clients when they win or delay the payment, I have observed over eight tickets that were worthy payment ” Ssewanyana said

He added that his intention was to inform the general public especially those who participate in sports betting to be cautious with the company from which they bet from.

Meanwhile the efforts from his lawyer Asuman Basalirwa to secure a bail were futile as the trial magistrate said that time was not enough to hear his bail application. He added that, the state had also earlier objected to his bail application.

Prosecution alleges that on December 13 2013, Ssewanyana issued publication of libel on NBS television and Top Radio sports shows to utter the rumors.

According to a source from the company who preferred anonymity, the company had received information about the continued utterances by Ssewanyana.

“We want him to prove to the court the said tickets the company failed to pay” the source said

The source further said that on several occasions, the company administrators tried to reach Ssewanyana to sort the issues out of court but he hid from them.

It is alleged that Ssewanyana said he had over 15 unpaid receipts from the betting company.

Ssewanyana was arrested on Friday at noon by a group of police detectives attached to the media crime department.