Ex-minister loses defamation suit
Nov 16, 2003
FORMER public service state minister Catherine Akumu Mavenjina has lost a suit in which she had sought damages against the Monitor Publications for alleged defamation
By Hillary Nsambu
FORMER public service state minister Catherine Akumu Mavenjina has lost a suit in which she had sought damages against the Monitor Publications for alleged defamation.
High Court judge V.T. Zehurikize dismissed the case, saying Mavenjina had failed to prove the newspaper defamed her.
“According to the pleadings, it is clear that the plaintiff does not assert that the publication was defamatory in its natural and ordinary meaning,†the judge ruled.
Mavenjina had sued the Editor-in-Chief, Wafula Ogutu and the Monitor Publication jointly and severally, claiming that they maliciously and falsely published in their issue of July 9, 2001, a defamatory article under the headline, “I will remain cabinet minister - Mavenjinaâ€.
Mavenjina, the former Nebbi Woman MP had in her evidence told court that the article carried insinuations and innuendoes which were defamatory and malicious.
“With due respect, I am unable to see these insinuations and innuendoes being attributed to the article,†the judge said.
The defendants admitted publishing the article but denied the story was false, malicious and defamatory.
The judge asked the parties to pay their own cost of suit.
FORMER public service state minister Catherine Akumu Mavenjina has lost a suit in which she had sought damages against the Monitor Publications for alleged defamation.
High Court judge V.T. Zehurikize dismissed the case, saying Mavenjina had failed to prove the newspaper defamed her.
“According to the pleadings, it is clear that the plaintiff does not assert that the publication was defamatory in its natural and ordinary meaning,†the judge ruled.
Mavenjina had sued the Editor-in-Chief, Wafula Ogutu and the Monitor Publication jointly and severally, claiming that they maliciously and falsely published in their issue of July 9, 2001, a defamatory article under the headline, “I will remain cabinet minister - Mavenjinaâ€.
Mavenjina, the former Nebbi Woman MP had in her evidence told court that the article carried insinuations and innuendoes which were defamatory and malicious.
“With due respect, I am unable to see these insinuations and innuendoes being attributed to the article,†the judge said.
The defendants admitted publishing the article but denied the story was false, malicious and defamatory.
The judge asked the parties to pay their own cost of suit.