Prof Ddumba defamation case pushed to March

By Andante Okanya

The defamation case filed by Makerere University vice chancellor Prof. Ssentamu Ddumba against university don Dr. John Wasswa Matovu has been pushed to March 4 next year.

On Thursday, the case came up for mention at the High Court in Kampala in court presided by Justice Benjamin Kabiito. Matovu was present but Ddumba was absent.

Matovu’s lawyers are Dr.James Akampumuza and Simon Tendo Kabenge.But the absent Ssentamu was represented by his lawyer Kwemara Kafuuzi.

The duo's bitter rivalry intensified this year on July 5 when Dr Joseph Wasswa Matovu purportedly published an article on the university's intranet service webmail.mak.ac.ug, with claims that Ddumba is unfit to be vice chancellor.

At the time, Ddumba was the acting principal at the university’s College of Business and Management Science (CoBAMS), Matovu's employer.

In Matovu's petition addressed to the Secretary, and vice chancellor search committee, he pleaded with them to scrutinise Ssentamu’s suitability for the VC post.  Matovu accused Ssentamu of corruption and abuse of office.

However in his plaint, Ddumba states that the purported defamatory words imply that he has questionable integrity. He is demanding damages, asserting that Matovu has injured his reputation.

The judge reiterated his earlier plea to the bitter rivals to reconcile, and settle their dispute amicably.

Asked by the New Vision yesterday whether the rivals had made a breakthrough in reconciliation, Matovu was non-committal, saying the next court appearance would decide.

“About that (reconciliation), let us wait for the March 4, then we will see,” Matovu said.