Buganda to Sue Lawyer Tugume Over Defamatory Corruption Claims Against Katikkiro

The kingdom has demanded that Tugume retract his statements and issue a public apology.

The Buganda Kingdom has threatened to sue Gideon Tugume, chief executive of the Human Rights Defenders Association, over what it describes as defamatory and baseless allegations against Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga.

In a letter dated November 14, 2024, the Kingdom accused Tugume of disseminating false claims in a widely circulated social media video.

According to the letter, the video seeks to tarnish the reputation of both the Katikkiro and the Kingdom.

The video alleges that the Katikkiro received coffee seedlings worth Shs 47 billion from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) during the 2024/2025 financial year, which he distributed for free, despite the Kingdom purportedly budgeting for them.

Mr Tugume further claims that funds from the Buganda Kingdom Royal Treasury (Nkuluze) were misappropriated for personal use and shared with members of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus.

Additionally, Tugume alleges that the Katikkiro requested a supplementary budget for the financial year to cover these expenditures.

The kingdom has categorically denied these allegations, labeling them false and malicious. In a statement issued by the Katikkiro’s legal team, the Kingdom asserts:

“The statements were made with reckless disregard for the truth, with intent to damage the Katikkiro’s and the Kingdom’s reputation.”

The kingdom maintains that Tugume’s claims lack evidence and contradict official records.

The Kingdom has dismissed Tugume’s claim that the UCDA provided coffee seedlings worth Shs47 billion.

It clarified that between 2016 and 2019, the UCDA supplied seedlings worth Shs8.4 billion, with no subsequent contributions.

Moreover, the Kingdom stated that no budget allocation for such an amount exists in its financial records for the 2024/2025 fiscal year or any prior years.

Funds allocated for agriculture, the Kingdom explained, have been directed toward initiatives such as clean water provision, the purchase of tractors, and support for cooperatives, trade, and fisheries.

The Katikkiro’s legal team has challenged Tugume to substantiate his claims:

“If you believe your allegations to be factual, we challenge you to provide substantive evidence supporting each of your claims. Absent this, we will proceed under the assumption that your statements were made with reckless disregard for the truth or with malicious intent.”

The Kingdom also accused Tugume of attempting to portray the Katikkiro and other officials as corrupt, causing significant harm to their reputations.

It further dismissed allegations that the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus is complicit in the misuse of funds.

The Kingdom’s legal team highlighted discrepancies in Tugume’s statements. For instance, the UCDA’s annual budget allocations over the past three years have been significantly lower than the Shs47 billion Tugume alleged was allocated exclusively to the Kingdom.

Additionally, the Mwanyi Terimba programme, a kingdom-led initiative supporting farmers, received only Shs413 million from State House in 2024—far less than the substantial allocation Tugume suggested.

The kingdom has demanded that Tugume retract his statements and issue a public apology.

“Your statements have inflicted severe damage on the Katikkiro’s standing and reputation, causing harm not only to his office but also to the credibility and reputation of the Buganda Kingdom.”

The kingdom warned that failure to comply with these demands would result in legal action, including civil and criminal proceedings.

This dispute arises as the Buganda Kingdom continues to focus on socio-economic development initiatives, such as Mwanyi Terimba, aimed at improving agricultural productivity.

The Kingdom argues that the allegations undermine its leadership and misrepresent its commitment to transparency and accountability.

Mr Tugume has not yet responded to the kingdom’s legal notice. However, the kingdom has reiterated its readiness to pursue legal measures should he fail to comply:

“We reserve the right to proceed with all available legal avenues should you fail to comply fully with the demands outlined above,” the notice reads.