The High Court in Kampala has ordered journalist and TikToker Dean Lubowa Saava to pay UGX100 million in general damages to Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG) Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe after finding that he defamed her through publications on his TikTok platform, TV10 Gano Mazima.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, June 24, 2026, Justice Joyce Kavuma ruled that statements published by Lubowa falsely portrayed Muhairwe as corrupt, dishonest, and unfit to hold public office, damaging her reputation and exposing her to public ridicule. The court also issued a permanent injunction restraining Lubowa and his agents from publishing any further defamatory statements against the Deputy IGG and ordered him to issue a public apology on the same TikTok platform where the statements were shared.
Muhairwe sued Lubowa in Civil Suit No. 0289 of 2025, accusing him of intentionally and recklessly publishing allegations linking her to corruption and abuse of office. According to court records, Lubowa repeatedly alleged through his TV10 Gano Mazima TikTok channel that Muhairwe received UGX200 million from engineers involved in a road project in Kaabong District and influenced investigations into the matter. He also accused her of involvement in other corrupt dealings and questioned her suitability to serve in Uganda’s anti-corruption body. Muhairwe denied the allegations, telling the court that she had never received such money, participated in the alleged activities, or visited Kaabong District in relation to the claims.
The case proceeded ex parted after Lubowa failed to file a defence despite being served with court documents. Justice Kavuma noted that although the defendant did not participate in the proceedings, Muhairwe was still required to prove her claims. During the hearing, Muhairwe presented recordings of the TikTok publications and called Kakooza Savio Ntensibe, Director of Ombudsman Affairs at the Inspectorate of Government, as a witness.
Ntensibe denied claims that he was Muhairwe’s personal assistant who allegedly collected money on her behalf, saying he had no involvement in any such transaction. The court found that the publications were defamatory and would lead a reasonable person to conclude that Muhairwe was corrupt and unsuitable to serve as Deputy Inspector General of Government. “The plain and ordinary meaning of the published words portrays the plaintiff as a corrupt and fraudulent person unfit to serve in the office of the Inspector General of Government,” Justice Kavuma ruled.
The judge also observed that Lubowa continued publishing the allegations despite warnings to stop, which demonstrated malice and recklessness. The court further considered evidence presented by Muhairwe’s lawyers that Lubowa had reportedly admitted in a separate criminal matter through a plea bargain that the statements published about the Deputy IGG were false.
In awarding damages, Justice Kavuma considered the damage to Muhairwe’s reputation, the humiliation and distress caused, and Lubowa’s failure to apologise or participate in the case. Although Muhairwe had sought exemplary damages, including UGX300 million in punitive damages, the court declined to award them, saying there was no evidence that Lubowa benefited financially from the publications.
The court instead awarded UGX100 million in general damages, costs of the suit, and interest at court rates until full payment. In February 2026, Lubowa was also convicted by the Makindye Chief Magistrates Court over charges related to operating an online TV broadcasting service without a licence from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and disobeying lawful orders from the regulator.
The court heard that between November 2018 and September 26, 2025, Lubowa and others operated TV10 Gano Mazima in Lungujja, Rubaga Division, Kampala, without a broadcasting licence. Several complainants, including Muhairwe, had petitioned UCC over content broadcast by Lubowa, alleging defamation and seeking regulatory intervention.
Following repeated warnings, UCC instituted criminal proceedings against him. He was convicted after entering a plea bargain agreement in which he agreed to reform. The Chief Magistrate of the Standards, Utilities, and Wildlife Court at Makindye, Gladys Kamasanyu, sentenced him to a combined fine of UGX4 million on the three counts, with a default sentence of six months imprisonment.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of 45 pieces of equipment seized from the TV10 Gano Mazima offices and studio in Lungujja, which were to be disposed of by UCC in accordance with the law-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
