The High Court in Kampala has ordered the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) to pay Opposition leader Kizza Besigye Shs80 million for refusing to run his adverts in the run-up to the 2011 presidential election.
Justice Margaret Oguli, in a ruling on Monday, said the money was in costs and damages after the state broadcaster refused to run the former presidential candidate’s campaign messages.
Dr Besigye had dragged UBC to court, accusing the state broadcaster and its then Managing Director, Edward Musinguzi Mugasa, of not airing his campaign messages yet he had paid them Shs21 million.
In the suit, he had demanded the refund of the money and accumulated interested.
Dr Besigye had also sought court injunction, barring UBC from discriminating Ugandans on the basis of political affiliation.
The opposition leader has welcomed the court ruling, according to a message posted on his Twitter handle.
