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Difas Munialo v Editor Sunday Vision Newspaper & Ors (Civil Suit No.1257 of 1997) [2004] UGHC 25 (10 September 2004)
- Citation
- [2004] UGHC 25
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Posture
- Civil Suit / Judgment
- Case number
- Civil Suit No.1257 of 1997
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Posture
- Civil Suit / Judgment
- Case number
- Civil Suit No.1257 of 1997
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the publication in the Sunday Vision newspaper was defamatory of the plaintiff, as it falsely labeled him a 'ghost headmaster' and implied he was unlawfully drawing a salary. The evidence showed that the plaintiff was entitled to his salary due to administrative failures, not personal wrongdoing. The defendants failed to prove that the publication was made under circumstances of qualified privilege or that it was a fair comment free of malice. The court held that the plaintiff's reputation was unjustly lowered in the eyes of society, and that the publication was not benign but carried a tinge of malice. The plaintiff suffered damage to his character and status, warranting an award of general damages, interest, and costs.
Court disposition
judgment_for_plaintiff
Orders
- The plaintiff is awarded UGX 6,000,000 as general damages.
- Interest on the general damages at 12% per annum from the date of filing until settlement in full.
- The defendants shall pay the costs of the suit.
02
Material facts
Parties
Difas Munialo
PlaintiffThe Editor Sunday Vision Newspaper
DefendantThe New Vision Printing & Publishing Corporation
DefendantAmounts and remedies
- General Damages: UGX 6,000,000
03
Procedural history
Posture
Civil Suit / Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the publication complained of was defamatory of the plaintiff.
- 02
Whether the publication was made in circumstances of qualified privilege.
- 03
Whether the plaintiff suffered any damage.
- 04
What remedies are available to the plaintiff.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The plaintiff argued that the article published by the defendants labeled him a 'ghost headmaster', implying he was unlawfully drawing a salary as a non-existent teacher. He maintained that he was entitled to his salary due to administrative circumstances and that the publication was false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation. He asserted that he was not a ghost teacher and had served honorably for decades.
- Respondent
- The defendants denied liability, contending that the words were not defamatory. In the alternative, they argued that the publication was privileged and constituted fair comment without malice. However, they failed to produce any witnesses or evidence to substantiate these defenses.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Ugandan common law on defamation
Defamation consists of the publication of a false statement that lowers a person's reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.
- 02
Ugandan law of torts
Qualified privilege protects certain publications made in good faith and without malice, where there is a duty or interest to communicate the information.
- 03
Ugandan law of damages
Damages are awarded to compensate for injury to reputation and emotional distress caused by defamatory statements.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the publication in the Sunday Vision newspaper was defamatory of the plaintiff, as it falsely labeled him a 'ghost headmaster' and implied he was unlawfully drawing a salary. The evidence showed that the plaintiff was entitled to his salary due to administrative failures, not personal wrongdoing. The defendants failed to prove that the publication was made under circumstances of qualified privilege or that it was a fair comment free of malice. The court held that the plaintiff's reputation was unjustly lowered in the eyes of society, and that the publication was not benign but carried a tinge of malice. The plaintiff suffered damage to his character and status, warranting an award of general damages, interest, and costs.
Obiter and limits
- The court takes judicial notice of the notoriety of 'ghost workers' in public service post-1995 Constitution, making such allegations particularly loathsome.
- The plaintiff was unfairly labeled a ghost when he was merely a displaced serving headmaster, otherwise a high caliber education official.
- The publication was insensitive, as the plaintiff was not given an opportunity to explain his circumstances.
Court disposition
judgment_for_plaintiff
- The plaintiff is awarded UGX 6,000,000 as general damages.
- Interest on the general damages at 12% per annum from the date of filing until settlement in full.
- The defendants shall pay the costs of the suit.
Source and reliance status
High Court of Uganda
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
High Court of Uganda
Judgment
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\f1\fs28\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\insrsid2578259 IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f1\fs28\insrsid2578259 \par CIVIL SUIT NO. 1257 OF 1997 \par }{\f1\fs28\insrsid2578259 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f1\fs28\insrsid2578259 \par DIFAS MUNIALO ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PLAINTIFF \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f1\fs28\insrsid2578259 VERSUS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\f1\fs28\insrsid2578259 \par 1. THE EDITOR SUNDAY VISION NEWSPAPER \par 2. THE NEW VISION PRINTING & PUBLISHING CORPORATION \par 3. SEWANYO KIGANDA ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: DEFENDANTS \par \par }\pard\plain \s2\ql \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f1\fs28\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid2578259 BEFORE: }{\ul\insrsid2578259 THE HON. MR. JUSTICE R. O. OKUMU WENGI
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f1\fs28\ul\insrsid2578259 \par }{\f1\fs28\insrsid2578259 \par }{\b\f1\fs28\insrsid2578259 JUDGMENT: \par }{\f1\fs28\insrsid2578259 \par }\pard\plain \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f1\fs28\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid2578259 The plaintiff filed this case in 1997 seeking damages for defamation against the defendants. The first defendant in the Editor, the second the paper in which the publication appeared while the third defendant was sued as it later transpired, as the author of the story complained of. The plaintiff contended that in an article of the Sunday Vision of 10}{\super\insrsid2578259 th}{\insrsid2578259 August 1997 under the title \'93Ghost Teachers Unearthed\'94 the publication stated that the plaintiff was such a ghost headmaster i.e. he was drawing a salary when he ought not to have been doing so. The defendants denied liability. They contended that t he words were not defamatory, and, in the alternative, that the publication was privileged, and a fair comment free of malice. The following facts were agreed on namely:- \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 1.\tab}}\pard \s17\qj
\fi-720\li1440\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 The publication \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 2.\tab}The plaintiff was employed as contended in the plaint and was on transfer \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 3.\tab}The plaintiff received salary at the school. \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \par The following documents were accordingly admitted as Exhibit P.1 to P.3 that is to say:- \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (a)\tab}}\pard \s17\qj \fi-720\li2160\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx2160\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\ilvl1\adjustright\rin0\lin2160\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 The Sunday Vision of 9/9/97
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (b)\tab}The letter of 23/10/96 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (c)\tab}The letter from Commissioner of Education. \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \par Four issues were framed namely:- \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (i)\tab}}\pard \s17\qj \fi-720\li1440\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls3\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 Whether the publication complained of was defamatory of the plaintiff. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (ii)\tab}Whether the publication was made in circumstances of qualified privilege. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (iii)\tab}Whether the plaintiff suffered any damage. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (iv)\tab}Remedies \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \par The plaintiff gave evidence on his behalf and called one additional witness. But when it came for the defence case the defendant was unable to produce any witnesses. The case against the 3}{\super\insrsid2578259 rd}{\insrsid2578259 defendant was
also dismissed leaving only two defendants. According to the plaintiff PW1, he was a long ti me teacher. As it turned out he had once been a distinguished headmaster of the notable Nabumali High School. in the 1990s however he had succumbed to the more humble schools like the BLK Muwonge School in Mukono District. He ran into trouble at one ti m e facing criminal charges in the Chief Magistrates court in Mukono. In yet another set back he had been transferred from one School to the other. But the destination School did not welcome him as the incumbent headmaster stuck on refusing to hand over t o the plaintiff. The erstwhile school head became schooless technically and in the meantime, being on the pay roll continued to draw a salary from his previous station. He narrated his ordeal as follows:- \par }\pard \s17\qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \'93I retired from service two years ago. In 1997 I was a headmaster, a floating headmaster. I was not deployed as a headmaster. Yes I was a bursar in 1991 to 1996 at BLK Muwonges School in Mukono. In 1996 I was transferred to Wampewo Secondary School W. E. F I.1.1997. My predecessor did not hand over th e School to me. I was rendered stationless but entitled to my salary. The Ministry of Education was clearly aware of this. I was on the computerized payroll of
BLK Muwonges where I was drawing salary from.\'94 \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \par He went on to lament: \par }\pard \s17\qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \'93My complaint is about a publication of the defendants in August to the effect that I am a ghost teacher drawing salary unlawfully \'85 I was greatly affected\'85 I had taught for 32 years and been Headmaster since 1973.\'94 \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \par In cross examination the plaintiff maintained his explanation when he said:- \par }\pard \s17\qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \'93 I floated as a predecessor did not hand over the school to me. But I was entitled to salary. A ghost is non-existent. I was not a ghost headmaster. I am not a ghost. I did not fleece government. I was entitled to my salary. I kep t getting salary till retirement two years ago\'85 It was not my fault that I was not rendering services. You would be grossly wrong to say I swindled public funds. My circumstances were explainable\'85\'94 \par }\pard \s17\qj
\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \par The second witness was Balam Nabuyaka who testified as PW2. He told court that the plaintiff was his headmaster at Nabumali. He told court that he was startled when he read the article referring to his idol headmaster as a ghost. He went on:- \par }\pard \s17\qj \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \'93I was surprised because in our School Nabumali he (the plaintiff) was called \'93British\'94 due to his perfect English accent and his high Caliber of training and conduct.\'94 \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \par From the above evidence on the record and in the absence of defence testimony I am able to say that the words complained of were grotesquely defamato ry of the plaintiff. It was insensitive given that the plaintiff could but was not asked to explain himself. The story was set in the period of 1997 soon after the 1995 constitution when the idea of ghost workers had become a vulgar notoriety in public s ervices and it was loathsome in the context of accountability by public officials be singled out as a ghost worker. Court can take Judicial notice of this. The plaintiff was unfairly labeled a ghost when he was merely a displaced serving headmaster, who
was otherwise a high Caliber Education official. I am unable to agree that the words complained of were benign or that the publication was made under circumstances of qualified privilege, there being absolutely no evidence of this from Exhibit P.1. As t h ese were the only issues framed, I would find and hold that the publication was defamatory, not privileged and that as a result the plaintiffs status in the eyes of right thinking members of society such s Nabuyaka Balam, was greatly lowered. In effect I
find that the issues have been resolved in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant. I also find that the plaintiff suffered damage and the publication was not without a tinge of malice that painted the plaintiff in terms of a degenerate. If also d epicted him as a renegade head teacher in his latter life given to indecent, unprofessional and unethical conduct. \par \par Considering the circumstances of this case and the pain visited on the retired plaintiff who had given his lifetime to the Education of Ugand ans I award him the sum of shs 6,000,000 as a modest form of a atonement to his injured character and status. I thus enter Judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant for \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (i)\tab}}\pard \s17\qj \fi-720\li1440\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls4\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 Shs 6,000,000 (6 million) as general damages. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (ii)\tab}Interest on (i) at 12% from the date of filing till settlement in full. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s17 \f1\fs28 \hich\af1\dbch\af0\loch\f1 (iii)\tab}Costs of this suit. \par }\pard \s17\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2578259 \par \par \par \par }{\b\insrsid2578259 R. O. Okumu Wengi \par JUDGE \par }{\insrsid2578259 10/9/2004. \par }}
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