The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Fort Portal has dismissed a defamation suit that had been filed against Fort Portal City Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Linda Irene Mugisa, by Patrick Amanyire Kasoro.
Kasoro filed the civil suit on 6 February 2025, accusing the legislator of making defamatory statements about him during the Tooro People’s Conference held at Kinyamasika on 20 December 2024.
In his suit, Kasoro sought a court declaration that the MP’s statements amounted to defamation. He also asked the court to order Hon. Linda to issue a public apology and pay Shs15 million in general damages.
According to the plaintiff, Hon. Linda allegedly told conference participants that Kasoro had solicited money from youths in Fort Portal while promising to provide them with chicks under a poultry project. She further claimed that Kasoro received 400 chicks despite lacking proper shelter for them.
The MP was also accused of stating that Kasoro took a group of youths from Fort Portal to Kampala, where they became stranded, prompting her to send him money to facilitate their return. She allegedly claimed that Kasoro instead diverted the money for his personal use.
Kasoro argued that the statements were false, malicious, and defamatory, contending that they subjected him to psychological distress and damaged his reputation as a leader, politician, and citizen in the eyes of the public.
However, in her ruling, Her Worship Joan Okori, the Chief Magistrate, upheld a preliminary objection raised by the defence.
The magistrate ruled that the plaintiff failed to disclose a valid cause of action because it did not reproduce the alleged defamatory words verbatim and the plaintiff had not sought leave of court to amend the pleadings.
Her Worship Okori emphasized that in defamation proceedings, the exact words complained of must be specifically pleaded to enable the court to determine whether they are capable of being defamatory.
Consequently, the court found that Kasoro’s plaint did not meet the legal threshold required for a defamation claim. The suit was therefore rejected for failing to disclose a cause of action.
The court dismissed the case with costs awarded to Hon. Linda Irene Mugisa, bringing the legal dispute to a close unless the plaintiff chooses to appeal the decision.