Former Uganda Cranes captain Andy Mwesigwa has been sued by ABC Capital Bank over public statements he allegedly made during a bitter dispute surrounding a loan obtained for his Amesco High School in Wakiso.
The bank filed a defamation suit against Mwesigwa at the High Court in Kampala on August 20, 2026, accusing the former footballer of making false and malicious statements that allegedly damaged its reputation.
ABC Capital Bank is seeking general, punitive and exemplary damages, a public apology and retraction, and a permanent order restraining Mwesigwa from making further allegedly defamatory statements against the bank.
The financial institution is also seeking interest at 25% per annum from the date the suit was filed until payment in full, together with the costs of the case.
‘Sports Mafias’ Claims Trigger Court Battle
According to the bank’s plaint, the dispute escalated after Mwesigwa publicly appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to intervene, alleging that “sports mafias” were working with ABC Capital Bank to take over his school.
The bank says the allegations were circulated through Umoja Standard, Galaxy FM and social media platforms, including TikTok and YouTube.
Mwesigwa also allegedly accused the bank of imposing an unlawful 30% monthly interest rate, claiming that the rate was not part of the original loan agreement.
ABC Capital Bank has denied the allegations, arguing that the statements portrayed it as a dishonest and fraudulent institution working with “mafias” to seize borrowers’ property and impose illegal interest rates.
The bank maintains that its actions were lawful and carried out in accordance with the loan agreement and applicable debt-recovery laws.
How The Shs480 Million Loan Reached Shs1.279 Billion
Court documents indicate that Amesco High School obtained a Shs480 million term loan on a reducing-balance basis.
The repayment schedule was created on January 2, 2020, with 16 instalments and a contractual maturity date of February 12, 2025.
ABC Capital Bank says the effective interest rate was 23.5%, while the contractual penal interest rate was 38.5%, comprising the normal interest plus a 15% penalty.
The bank alleges that Mwesigwa did not consistently make scheduled payments, resulting in penal interest and continued accumulation of the outstanding obligation.
According to the bank’s records, about Shs338.4 million was paid towards the loan. However, the institution says the payments did not fully regularise the account.
The bank says the loan was written off on June 28, 2024, when the outstanding amount stood at Shs787.37 million, while stressing that the write-off did not cancel Mwesigwa’s obligation to repay the debt.
By May 18, 2026, ABC Capital Bank says the outstanding amount had risen to approximately Shs1.279 billion.
Court Had Earlier Ordered Deposit
The loan dispute has also generated separate proceedings concerning property used as security.
According to the bank, court rulings issued on July 30 and August 4, 2026 granted Mwesigwa a conditional temporary injunction concerning the recovery process.
One condition required him to deposit 30% of the outstanding liability in court within 30 days, which the bank puts at approximately Shs392.3 million.
ABC Capital Bank now argues that Mwesigwa’s public statements were made while the matter was before court and caused reputational damage to the institution.
In his first video evidence before court, Andrew Wilson Orlando aka @artfulgypzy presented a 5min recording pinning Kizza Besigye in a meeting without Besigye appearing in the video. The video shows someone with a back to camera and a man with a head wrap Orlando says is Wakayima pic.twitter.com/nHJCiPDOEu
— Ronald Muhinda (@RonaldMuhinda) August 24, 2026
Bank Wants Public Apology
In the defamation case, ABC Capital Bank argues that Mwesigwa, because of his public profile, had a responsibility to ensure that his allegations were truthful and properly verified.
The bank accuses him of acting with reckless disregard for the truth and malice, claims that will have to be determined through the court process.
It says the alleged publications lowered its reputation among existing and potential customers and exposed the bank to hatred, contempt and ridicule.
The bank is therefore asking the High Court to declare Mwesigwa liable for defamation, permanently restrain further allegedly defamatory statements and order him to issue a public apology and retraction through media and his social media platforms.
The bank is also seeking general, punitive and exemplary damages, interest and costs of the suit.
The allegations contained in the plaint have not yet been determined by the court, and Mwesigwa will have an opportunity to respond to the claims.
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