The High Court in Kampala has this morning allowed the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr Kizza Besigye to serve court summons on Edward Musinguzi Mugasa, the former managing director Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) through the media after failing to trace him for the past two months.
The go ahead was granted by the court’s assistant registrar Eudes Keiterima.
Dr Besigye is now free to serve Musinguzi through Daily Monitor or New Vision newspapers as per court directive.
Monday’s application arises from an earlier law suit filed by Dr Besigye against UBC and Musinguzi on allegations that he was discriminated against when his last year’s election campaign messages were not run yet UBC had been paid 21 million shillings for the airtime.
Musinguzi was sued for being directly responsible for the actions of the state broadcaster at the time of elections.
Dr Besigye was not present in court though he was represented by one of his lawyers, Ivan Engoru from AF Mpanga and Co advocates.
UBC, which is the 1st respondent in this case, has already been served with the court sermons and has since defended itself by denying owing any money to Dr Besigye.
In his main suit filed in April this year, Dr Besigye, who has led the biggest opposition group against President Museveni’s government for the last 10 years, says he was discriminated against on the basis of his political opinion.
He stood against and lost to Museveni in 2001, 2006 and 2011 elections. Besigye noted that campaign messages of other presidential candidates were broadcast while his were left out.
The FDC leader is now seeking recovery of more than 21 million shillings for at least 200 airtime spots, which he said was paid to UBC through his agent, Big Ideas.
He had wanted the campaign messages to run on the various countrywide platforms of UBC TV, UBC radio, Mega FM, and Star FM.
He is also seeking interest of 30 percent on the payment to be calculated from December 2010 until full payment is made.
The hearing of this case can’t commence until Musinguzi files in his defense against the allegations.
