Prince Jjuuko's defamation case deferred to November

Oct 28, 2020

Prince Joseph Kiyimba Jjuuko, 43, and Richard Kayima, 36, are battling charges of libel and offensive communication.

COURT|CRIME|DEFAMATION 


KAMPALA - The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates' Court in Kampala has adjourned the case in which two men are accused of defaming top Buganda Kingdom officials.

Prince Joseph Kiyimba Jjuuko, 43, and Richard Kayima, 36, are battling charges of libel and offensive communication.

The charges contravene Sections 179, 180 of the Penal Code Act, and 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011, and on conviction, attract a maximum penalty of one and two years' imprisonment.

Grade One Senior Magistrate, Stella Maris Amabilis adjourned the case to November 30, 2020 noting that the state prosecutor meant to prosecute the duo was indisposed.

"I note that this case has come up for hearing, but am unable to proceed in absence of the state prosecutor who I understand is off for official duties.

I, therefore, adjourn the case to November 30 for hearing and the accused's bail is hereby extended until then," Amabilis ruled.

Jjuuko, an accountant and Kayima, a KCCA councillor for Natete Parish in Rubaga division are accused of publishing defamatory information against David Kyewalabye Male, the minister of culture in Buganda Kingdom and other Buganda Land Board (BLB) top officials.

The charges

Prosecution purports that between October 2019 and June 2020, within Kampala or thereabout, using Facebook account "Jjuuko Kiyimba" and "Jjuuko Joseph," the accused, unlawfully published defamatory matter concerning Kyewalabye, inter alia that he (Kyewalyabye), the Buganda Kingdom fraudster can never cease to amuse the public, with intent to defraud him.

That the accused published defamatory matter concerning Martin Kasekende, the current Chairman of BLB that ‘he is a thief behind Kyapa Mungalo fraud, among others with intent to defame him.

It is further alleged that the duo willfully and repeatedly, using their Facebook accounts, posted Kasekende's picture calling him a ‘BLB fraudster and a thug who stole 20% of NSSF money, an act that disturbed the latter's peace, quite or right of privacy of Kasekende, with no purpose of legitimate communication.

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