law 3 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Magistrate awarded Shs20 million in defamation suit against deceased mother and brother
A Ugandan magistrate has won a Shs20 million defamation lawsuit against his deceased mother and brother. The court found that defamatory allegations were published against the magistrate concerning a family land dispute. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/magistrate-wins-shs20m-defamation-case-against-brother-deceased-mother-5582888
The High Court in Jinja has ruled in favor of Magistrate Steven Johnson Waidhuuba, ordering his late mother, Lovisa Ayazika, and his brother, Andrew Balondemu, to pay him Shs20 million in general damages. The court found both defendants jointly and severally liable for publishing defamatory statements against Waidhuuba.
The dispute centered on a six-acre family land in Iganga District and began in 2021. Waidhuuba, then a Grade II Magistrate, was accused by his mother and brother of forging documents to acquire family land, abusing his judicial position, and misusing his late father’s pension funds. These accusations were disseminated through petitions to authorities, news media, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms.
Justice Joanita Bushara highlighted a letter from April 2022 where the magistrate’s mother accused him of taking control of his late father’s bank account and using pension money for personal gain instead of covering medical bills. Although Waidhuuba was cleared by the Judicial Service Commission, the court determined that the widespread publication caused significant reputational damage, particularly grave due to the direct attack on a judicial officer’s integrity.
Justice Bushara stated that such allegations attack the foundation of public confidence in the judiciary and impute severe moral turpitude and criminal liability. Evidence presented included threats made by Balondemu to have the magistrate removed from office and registry staff discussing the allegations. As the defendants failed to present a defense, the court proceeded ex-parte.
In addition to the damages, the court issued a permanent injunction against further defamatory statements, ordered the defendants to pay the suit’s costs, and mandated a retraction and apology across the media channels used to spread the claims. The judgment was delivered shortly after the mother’s passing on August 25, 2026.
This case was reported by the Daily Monitor.