Sabiiti apologises to judges
Aug 27, 2006
JACK Sabiiti, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) treasurer, has apologised to the Deputy Chief Justice, Laetitia Mukasa-Kikonyogo and to High Court judge Remmy Kasule, for writing defamatory statements against them.
By Hillary Nsambu
JACK Sabiiti, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) treasurer, has apologised to the Deputy Chief Justice, Laetitia Mukasa-Kikonyogo and to High Court judge Remmy Kasule, for writing defamatory statements against them.
Sabiiti, through Victoria Advocates and Legal Consultants, sent his two-page apology of August 23 through the judges’ lawyers, Sendege, Senyondo and Company Advocates and referred to each judge separately, but with similar contents.
He stated that although at the time of writing the letter that contained the defamatory statement he believed the information he had received was true, he had since established that it had no basis.
The apologies bear a signature on behalf of Victoria Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sabiiti and Winnie Byanyima were reported in the press to have accused the judges of receiving millions of shillings as bribes from the Government to influence their ruling in cases involving FDC chief Dr. Kizza Besigye. They asked the Chief Justice to investigate the matter.
The apology is referenced, “Civil suit No230 and 231/2006, Justices Remmy Kasule and L.E.M. Mukasa-Kikonyogo respectively versus Jack Sabiiti, Winnie K. Byanyima and FDC.â€
The apologies follow civil suits that were filed by the judges in the High Court against Sabiiti, Byanyima and FDC, seeking general and punitive damages for libel.
Framed in the same wording, the apologies said, “We refer to the above named civil matter in which we represent the first defendant (Sabiiti) and are instructed on his behalf to offer the following apology.â€
“on or about December 24, 2005 I wrote a letter to Hon. Benjamin Odoki, the Chief Justice of Uganda and a Justice of the Supreme Court, stating that I had received information from reliable sources to the effect that Government, through President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Col. Leonard Kyanda, the director of Military Intelligence and Lt. Ddamulira working in the same organisation, had paid bribes to judges as follows:
Shillings two-hundred million to Lady Justice Laetitia Mukasa-Kikonyongo, the Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda and head of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Appeal, to influence her decision in favour of the Government in a number of important cases she was handling in the Constitutional Court involving Col. Kizza Besigye and others plus the Uganda Law Society.
Shillings one-hundred million to Justice Remmy Kasule, a judge of the High Court, to influence his ruling in favour of the Government in a recent bail application he had handled involving Col. Kizza Besigye.
“In that letter, I urged the Chief Justice to, inter-alia, launch a serious investigation into those allegations of bribery. This was in conformity with my constitutional and legal rights as a responsible citizen to report what had come to me to the relevant authorities.
“Though at the time of writing the letter to the CJ, I believed that information I had received to be reliable, I have since learnt that there was no foundation, whatsoever, in the allegations of bribery.
“I, therefore, accordingly wish to take this opportunity to withdraw those most unfortunate accusations of bribery.
“I also wish to express my regret and most sincere apology to Hon. Lady Justice L.E.M. Mukasa-Kikonyogo and Hon. Justice Remmy Kasule and all those affected by the allegations for any distress, embarrassment, humiliation, mental agony and anguish caused to them by the report I made to the judges.
“We pray that your clients accept these apologies and the matter be laid to rest. Thanking you for your co-operation.â€
JACK Sabiiti, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) treasurer, has apologised to the Deputy Chief Justice, Laetitia Mukasa-Kikonyogo and to High Court judge Remmy Kasule, for writing defamatory statements against them.
Sabiiti, through Victoria Advocates and Legal Consultants, sent his two-page apology of August 23 through the judges’ lawyers, Sendege, Senyondo and Company Advocates and referred to each judge separately, but with similar contents.
He stated that although at the time of writing the letter that contained the defamatory statement he believed the information he had received was true, he had since established that it had no basis.
The apologies bear a signature on behalf of Victoria Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sabiiti and Winnie Byanyima were reported in the press to have accused the judges of receiving millions of shillings as bribes from the Government to influence their ruling in cases involving FDC chief Dr. Kizza Besigye. They asked the Chief Justice to investigate the matter.
The apology is referenced, “Civil suit No230 and 231/2006, Justices Remmy Kasule and L.E.M. Mukasa-Kikonyogo respectively versus Jack Sabiiti, Winnie K. Byanyima and FDC.â€
The apologies follow civil suits that were filed by the judges in the High Court against Sabiiti, Byanyima and FDC, seeking general and punitive damages for libel.
Framed in the same wording, the apologies said, “We refer to the above named civil matter in which we represent the first defendant (Sabiiti) and are instructed on his behalf to offer the following apology.â€
“on or about December 24, 2005 I wrote a letter to Hon. Benjamin Odoki, the Chief Justice of Uganda and a Justice of the Supreme Court, stating that I had received information from reliable sources to the effect that Government, through President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Col. Leonard Kyanda, the director of Military Intelligence and Lt. Ddamulira working in the same organisation, had paid bribes to judges as follows:
Shillings two-hundred million to Lady Justice Laetitia Mukasa-Kikonyongo, the Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda and head of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Appeal, to influence her decision in favour of the Government in a number of important cases she was handling in the Constitutional Court involving Col. Kizza Besigye and others plus the Uganda Law Society.
Shillings one-hundred million to Justice Remmy Kasule, a judge of the High Court, to influence his ruling in favour of the Government in a recent bail application he had handled involving Col. Kizza Besigye.
“In that letter, I urged the Chief Justice to, inter-alia, launch a serious investigation into those allegations of bribery. This was in conformity with my constitutional and legal rights as a responsible citizen to report what had come to me to the relevant authorities.
“Though at the time of writing the letter to the CJ, I believed that information I had received to be reliable, I have since learnt that there was no foundation, whatsoever, in the allegations of bribery.
“I, therefore, accordingly wish to take this opportunity to withdraw those most unfortunate accusations of bribery.
“I also wish to express my regret and most sincere apology to Hon. Lady Justice L.E.M. Mukasa-Kikonyogo and Hon. Justice Remmy Kasule and all those affected by the allegations for any distress, embarrassment, humiliation, mental agony and anguish caused to them by the report I made to the judges.
“We pray that your clients accept these apologies and the matter be laid to rest. Thanking you for your co-operation.â€