Buganda Kingdom Threatens Shs 5Billion Lawsuit Against Daily Monitor

Buganda Kingdom has threatened to drag Monitor Publications to courts of law over a recent story in which the kingdom was accused of misusing donation funds from the US Embassy.

The paper in the Monday April 20^th story, claimed Buganda Kingdom had failed to account for $250,000, and that the embassy demanded its refund which led to the stalling of the Kasubi tombs project.

This account has been dismissed both by the kingdom and the US Embassy though its spokesman.

In a statement, the Buganda Kingdom information minister clarified that the US Embassy only released to the kingdom a grant of $5000 and not $250,000; which they failed to utilize and therefore returned it to the embassy.

In a letter of intention to sue, Buganda Kingdom lawyers accused the reporter of threatening Kingdom officials in WhatsApp exchanges, and presenting altered statements which were “clearly pointed out to him to be false.”

“The article written and published about the Kingdom of Buganda and its officials, is false in all material particulars and amounts to Libel, for which you are liable to pay heavy damages and costs for the injury caused to Buganda Kingdom in its ordinary and natural meaning. The article portrays the Kingdom and its officials as thieves, criminals, unscrupulous and dishonest people who are unfit to be in leadership or deserve to be trusted by the US Government or any other person or entity,” wrote Christopher Bwanika the Kingdom Attorney General

“The article is glaringly false as the Kingdom of Buganda has not fallen out with the US Embassy as Daily Monitor claims. The Kingdom has at all times, prior to the publication of that article, been enjoying a cordial working relationship with the US embassy, the US Government and citizenry. The allegation is intended to deter future engagements with the Kingdom’s strategic partners.”

As such, Bwanika says the Kingdom held Daily Monitor liable in damages “reckoned to be over Uganda Shillings 5,000.000,000 for the injury and suffering caused “

“We therefore demand that Monitor Publications Limited and the Editor, admit liability to pay damages and forthwith, withdraw the false story, and publish a prominent apology to the Kabaka of Buganda, the Katikkiro of Buganda, Cabinet and officials of Buganda Kingdom and the people of Buganda,” Bwanika demanded.

“The apology should be prominently displayed and printed on the front page of the Daily Monitor Newspaper to set the record straight within five days of receiving this notice, failing which we shall proceed to sue the Monitor Publications Limited and the Editor to claim heavier damages and costs for Libel under the laws of Uganda.