Court summons author of book on Museveni

By Andante Okanya

The author of the controversial book on President Museveni titled "The Correct Line? Uganda under Museveni", has been summoned by the High Court in Kampala, and ordered to file her defence in response to a defamation suit filed against her by a UPDF officer Lt. Col. Atwooki Ndahura.

In the summons dated October 15, 2012, issued by registrar Festo Nsenga, Dr Olive Kobusingye has been ordered to file her defence within 15 days, lest judgement is passed in her absence.
“Should you fail to file a defence, the plaintiff shall proceed in the suit and judgement entered in your absence,” the order states.

In the suit filed on October 11, Ndahura claims Dr Kizza Besigye’s younger sister defamed him by writing that he killed a one Johnson Baronda in Rukungiri during the 2001 general elections.

Ndahura wants the book scrapped off the Ugandan market, and a declaration that it contains falsehoods. Kobusingye"s controversial book, published in October 2010, claims many people became disillusioned along the way during President Yoweri Museveni"s rein after 1986.

The contentious statements are contained on pages 15 and 16. The East Africa Standby Force chief of planning claims his reputation has been tarnished. The recipient of numerous awards and medals, notably the Luwero Triangle medal, claims Kobusingye insinuated that he was promoted in the army as a reward for the 2001 incident.

 Through Kafeero and Company Advocates, Ndahura asserts that Kobusingye chose to slander him in a book of wide coverage, yet he is a senior military officer of proven integrity. He claims the book portrays him as a criminal, violator of human rights, who is unfit to serve the prestigious UPDF.

Ndahura wants damages, to be determined by court, and is demanding a retraction of the contentious statements. He also wants her permanently restrained from writing anything deemed defamatory to  him. The case file is yet to be allocated to a judge, and a hearing date is yet to be fixed.