City bank sues former Cranes captain Mwesigwa over alleged defamation
According to court documents, Mwesigwa on August 12, 2026, allegedly published or caused to be published defamatory statements against the bank through the online publication Umoja Standard under the headline: “Former Cranes Capt. Andy Mwesigwa Appeals to Museveni over Disputed School Loan and Auction Pushed by Sports Mafias.”
City bank sues former Cranes captain Mwesigwa over alleged defamation
KAMPALA - A city bank has sued former Uganda Cranes captain Andy Mwesigwa for allegedly publishing defamatory statements against the bank on various media and social media platforms.
Through Kiiza and Kwanza Advocates, ABC Capital Bank Limited filed a suit in the Civil Division of the High Court on August 20, accusing Mwesigwa of making and causing to be published statements that it says were false, malicious and damaging to its reputation.
According to court documents, Mwesigwa on August 12, 2026, allegedly published or caused to be published defamatory statements against the bank through the online publication Umoja Standard under the headline: “Former Cranes Capt. Andy Mwesigwa Appeals to Museveni over Disputed School Loan and Auction Pushed by Sports Mafias.”
The bank further alleges that on August 13, 2026, Mwesigwa, acting in concert with or causing content to be published by 100.2 Galaxy FM, made similar allegations against the bank on the station’s X account, formerly known as Twitter.
According to the bank, the publication stated, “Former Uganda Cranes captain, Andy Mwesigwa, risks losing his school, Amesco High School, to ABC Capital Bank over an unpaid loan that had accumulated to sh1.3b. The publication also included a video reiterating the allegations.
The bank alleges that on or about the same dates, Mwesigwa published or caused similar statements to be published on TikTok and YouTube through accounts under his control or in collaboration with third parties.
ABC Capital Bank states the publications resulted in the wide dissemination of what it describes as false and malicious allegations.
According to the bank, Mwesigwa’s posts accused it of fraud and unlawful conduct and alleged that the institution was working with “sports mafias” to take over his school.
The bank also disputes Mwesigwa’s alleged claim that it had imposed an unlawful and excessive monthly interest rate of 30%, which was not contained in the original loan agreement.
“The statements were made in the context of a lawful debt recovery process and after court decisions delivered on July 30 and August 4, 2026,” the bank contends.
According to the bank, the court granted an injunction requiring Mwesigwa to deposit 30% of the outstanding liability, amounting to sh392m, in court within 30 days. The order was issued by the Commercial Court assistant registrar Christa Namutebi.
The financial institution contends that Mwesigwa’s statements portrayed it as a dishonest and fraudulent institution engaged in unlawful financial practices and conspiring with “mafias” to deprive customers of their property.
The bank further says the statements portrayed it as an institution that oppresses borrowers through illegal and excessive interest rates and as an unreliable and predatory financial institution.
The bank denies all the allegations, maintaining that its actions were lawful, complied with the loan agreement and fell within the established legal framework for debt recovery.
What the bank wants
The bank wants court to declare Mwesigwa liable for defamation and issue an order restraining him, his agents and servants from publishing further defamatory statements against the financial institution.
The bank is also seeking an order compelling Mwesigwa to issue an unconditional public retraction of the statements through a media outlet of wide circulation, with prominence equal to that of the original publications.
It further wants a public apology published in a newspaper of nationwide circulation and on Mwesigwa’s social media platforms.
The bank is seeking general damages for defamation, punitive and/or exemplary damages, interest at 25% per annum from the date of filing the suit until payment in full, as well as costs of the suit.
According to the bank, the publication stated, “Former Uganda Cranes captain, Andy Mwesigwa, risks losing his school, Amesco High School, to ABC Capital Bank over an unpaid loan that had accumulated to sh1.3b. The publication also included a video reiterating the allegations.
Bank complains to UCC
Separately, ABC Capital Bank has lodged a complaint against 100.2 Galaxy FM with the executive director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), George William Nyombi Thembo, over the alleged publication of defamatory content.
In a letter dated August 18, 2026, the bank contends that the publication breached Regulation 27 of the Uganda Communications (Content) Regulations, 2019, which prohibits the transmission of false, misleading or defamatory content.
The financial institution has asked UCC to investigate the complaint, hear both parties and make a formal determination on whether Galaxy FM breached the minimum broadcasting standards under the law.
How it started
The loan facility attracted an annual interest rate of 23.5% per annum and was repayable in 16 termly instalments of sh54.67m each, falling due on February 20, June 20 and October 20 of each year.
According to Mwesigwa, the loan was obtained to refinance an existing debt facility with Equity Bank Uganda Limited and to finance the completion of two classroom blocks at his school in Kakiri, Wakiso district.
The loan statements indicate that the borrower did not consistently make the scheduled instalment payments when they fell due.
As a result, payments made were insufficient to regularise the account fully, and outstanding obligations continued to accumulate. The borrower has so far paid approximately sh338m.
However, the school defaulted on loan repayment, prompting the bank to commence recovery proceedings by issuing multiple statutory notices of default and sale from March 25, 2021 to March 11, 2026.
Write-off
According to Mwesigye, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he requested an interest waiver from the bank after the outstanding loan balance increased from sh480m to sh761m.
He says the bank subsequently informed him that the interest for 2022 had been revised in accordance with Bank of Uganda directives and invited him to sign the enclosed loan restructuring offer.
However, Mwesigye claims that, despite the restructuring offer, the bank has never provided a clear, complete, accurate and verifiable statement of account to him.
The bank, however, contends that the loan account was written off on June 28, 2024, with the outstanding balance at sh787m.
The bank maintains that the write-off did not amount to a waiver, cancellation, or extinguishment of the borrower’s obligation to repay the loan, as provided under the terms of the offer letter.
Court documents indicate that, as of May 18, 2026, the bank claimed that it was demanding Mwesigwa sh1.3b, representing the outstanding balance on the account, including amounts accrued under the applicable loan terms.
“The loan was not settled because it was written off. The account records show a history of missed or insufficiently serviced instalments, with contractual interest and penalties continuing to apply in accordance with the loan agreement,” the bank contends.
The banks contends that any dispute regarding the calculation, application of interest or penalties, or the enforceability of particular charges should be determined by reference to the underlying agreement, account statements, and applicable law.