UBC appeals 80m shillings court award to Besigye

Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | The Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) Tuesday appealed the High court’s recent decision that directed the Corporation to pay former opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kiiza Besigye 80 million shillings as damages, for refusing to run his Presidential Campaign advert messages in 2011.

Last month, Justice Margret Oguli-Oumo condemned UBC for refusing to play Dr. Besigye’s campaign advert messages for which it had received 21 million shillings from him.

However through its lawyer Kiryowa Kiwanuka, UBC feels dissatisfied by the said decision, and has now filed a notice of appeal in the Appellate Court seeking to challenge the said award, and another order to pay Besigye 30% interest of the 80m shillings, and costs of the suit.

Besigye filed a suit against UBC and its former managing director Edward Musinguzi in 2012, accusing them of failing in their contractual obligations to run his campaign advert messages ahead of the 2011 general elections.

Even though UBC later refunded the 21 million shillings to Dr. Besigye; Justice Oguli ruled that he had equal rights to enjoy Media coverage, as a Presidential Candidate, but these were violated.

The Judge then directed UBC to strictly observe the rights of all Presidential Candidates in future, when it comes to media coverage.