Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has dragged The Capital Times online news paper to Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) accusing it of defamation.
In a letter seen by Ug Mirror dated 18 March, 2021 by the UCC boss Eng. Irene Kaggwa-Sewankambo addressed to the Managing Editor of Capital Times saying she had received a complaint from Kadaga about an article published on the website.
“We refer to the above subject matter and a letter dated 16th March 2021 wherein the office of the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda complained to the Uganda Communications Commission (the Commission) about an article that was published by Capital Times,” Eng. Irene’s letter reads in part.
According to the UCC ED, Kadaga alleges that The Capital Times, published an article on the 13 th March 2021, that was allegedly false, offensive and biased.
The story is titled “Explosive: How Speaker Kadaga & confidant Hon. Okupa spent over US $ 764, 000(Shs.2.8BN) in less than 2 years in Travels abroad”, and according to Kadaga, it made offensive and defamatory statements against her and Hon. Elijah Okupa.
Kadaga alleges that the newspaper never accorded them an opportunity to share their perspective on the subject matter.
UCC says it has since commenced investigations and is demanding that Capital Times Limited provides a formal written response to the allegations “within a period of three (3) days from the date of receipt of this letter to facilitate the ongoing investigations and possible arbitration of the same.”
UCC warns that failure by the newspaper to do so, it will have no choice but to proceed with its investigations and take any appropriately regulatory measures in accordance with the Uganda Communications Act 2013.
The Capital Times Managing Editor was not available to comment at the time of publishing this story.