Cheeye To Pay Winnie
TEDDY Seezi Cheeye, the editor of Uganda Confidential has been ordered to pay sh10m to Winnie Byanyima, the Mbarara Municipality MP, as general damages for defamation.
By Hillary Nsambu
TEDDY Seezi Cheeye, the editor of Uganda Confidential has been ordered to pay sh10m to Winnie Byanyima, the Mbarara Municipality MP, as general damages for defamation.
Justice John Patrick Tabaro yesterday at the High Court in Kampala ruled that Cheeye had no justification to publish defamatory statements against Byanyima.
Cheeye published several defamatory and libelous articles against Byanyima in 1996 and 1997.
Cheeye did not appear in court to defend himself against the suit, despite the fact that he had put in a written statement of defence in which he pleaded fair comment in public interest, which the court rejected.
The judge declined to grant punitive damages against Cheeye, saying the general damages that were awarded against him would meet the end of justice.
Neither Byanyima nor Cheeye were present in court. But Byanyima’s counsel, Oscar Kihiika Byenkya of Kihiika and Company Advocates, said she was out of the country.
The judge also ordered an injunction restraining Cheeye from publishing character injuring articles against Byanyima in the future.
Ends
TEDDY Seezi Cheeye, the editor of Uganda Confidential has been ordered to pay sh10m to Winnie Byanyima, the Mbarara Municipality MP, as general damages for defamation.
Justice John Patrick Tabaro yesterday at the High Court in Kampala ruled that Cheeye had no justification to publish defamatory statements against Byanyima.
Cheeye published several defamatory and libelous articles against Byanyima in 1996 and 1997.
Cheeye did not appear in court to defend himself against the suit, despite the fact that he had put in a written statement of defence in which he pleaded fair comment in public interest, which the court rejected.
The judge declined to grant punitive damages against Cheeye, saying the general damages that were awarded against him would meet the end of justice.
Neither Byanyima nor Cheeye were present in court. But Byanyima’s counsel, Oscar Kihiika Byenkya of Kihiika and Company Advocates, said she was out of the country.
The judge also ordered an injunction restraining Cheeye from publishing character injuring articles against Byanyima in the future.
Ends