BY MATHIUS KAHUNGU
High Court in Kasese has forwarded a defamation case file involving Mr. Banjo Masereka and Bryans Basisa to the Kasese Deputy Registrar for trail preparation.
Trail preparation means the crucial pretrial phase of organizing evidence, witnesses and legal strategies to present an effective case in court. It involves gathering documents, preparing witness testimony, drafting legal arguments, and planning case strategy to ensure a smooth, persuasive courtroom presentation.
Yesterday Morning, High Court in Kasese was expected to hear a defamation case Banjo Masereka, the outgoing Kasese District Councilor representing the people with disabilities and Bryans Basisa, the Kasese District NUP Chairperson
Mr. Masereka dragged Basisa to the High Court, accusing him of allegedly making defamatory statements against him.
According to part of his plaint, between 2020 and 2022, Basisa allegedly at different times made defamatory statements against the plaintiff and sent several public notices to his voters and different members of the organizations led by the plaintiff in Kasese and Uganda at large, referring to him as a land grabber.
The plaint also indicates that in the year 2020, the defendant allegedly issued or published other defamatory statements via his Facebook account registered in his name.
Mr. Masereka, the plaintiff is therefore seeking the following court orders among others:
A declaration that the defendant defamed him, a permanent injunction restraining him from making further defamatory statements against the him and payment of general damages amounting to over 52 million shillings (52,000,000) and punitive damages for defamation.
The plaintiff is also seeking an order for the defendant to make a public apology in the media while withdrawing his alleged defamatory statements and payment of costs for the suit.
However, Basisa denies all those allegations dubbing them as grudges resulting from land disputes.
Speaking to the media shortly after the court session, Defense Counsel Jonan Kambere from Boris and Co. Advocates said High Court that was presided over the Kasese Resident Judge, Hon. Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, was set to hear the matter but found the file not yet ready for trial.
According to him, it was forwarded back to the Deputy Register for trial preparation and would be rescheduled for hearing.
ENDS