A journalist in the northern district of Lira has given a seven-day ultimatum to one Eng. Odongo Joseph Bongonyinge and his wife, Atim Janet Bongonyinge.
Through his lawyers of M/s Okanyum, Namusana & Co. Advocates, Akwam Emmy Milton says that Odongo and his wife were on “several fora” on April 27, 2025, claiming that he (Akwam) sourced and carried a news article about their family after a bribe of Shs 450,000. Akwam is the Managing Director of The Northern Daily (tndnews).
According to a 3-page notice of intention to sue dated April 29, 2025, Eng. Odongo’s actions and that of his wife “instigated a feeling of hatred, contempt, ridicule, and a fear of dislike” and that “it lowered our client’s reputation before the right-thinking members of society.”
“TAKE NOTICE that your conduct amounts to DEFAMATION, which is actionable in both civil and criminal branches of law under the laws of Uganda as enshrined in the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and the Penal Code Act Cap 128.
Akwam now wants Eng. Odongo and his wife to retract the defamatory statement, make a formal apology, pay Shs 150 million as general damages, and pay Shs 5 million as fees to his lawyers.
“Must you fail to heed our client’s simple demands within 7 days from the date of receipt of this demand notice cum notice of intention to sue, our strictest instructions are to drag you to courts of law in pursuit of our client’s rights to your own embarrassment, colossal costs, and regret,” warns the lawyers.
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