Former Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi and 16 of his co-accused have been released on bail after spending nearly six months on remand over terrorism-related charges.
The decision was made on Thursday by Lady Justice Susan Okalany, Deputy Head of the International Crimes Division, who ruled that the applicants had met the legal threshold for bail despite objections from the prosecution.
Kivumbi was granted cash bail of UGX 10 million, while each of his three sureties was ordered to execute a non-cash bond of UGX 5 million. His 16 co-accused were each granted cash bail of UGX 1 million, with their sureties required to execute non-cash bonds of UGX 5 million.
As part of the bail conditions, Kivumbi must surrender his passport to the court. He and the other accused are required to report to the Registrar of the International Crimes Division once every month and also report monthly to the Butambala Magistrates Court. They are prohibited from leaving Uganda without prior permission from the court.
Justice Okalany, however, postponed the bail applications of six co-accused after finding that the sureties presented were insufficient. The affected applicants are Kelvin Kayanja, Brian Ssewanyana, Brian Muwanguzi, Ivan Akankwasa, Yusuf Ramathan Kiwanuka and Brian Owori.
The six were directed to present fresh sureties when they return to court on July 13, 2026.
The judge also instructed the prosecution to speed up investigations into the case, noting that if the accused are not committed for trial within one year from the date of the ruling, they may apply for a review of their bail terms.
The ruling was read in open court by Deputy Registrar Juliet Harty Hatanga before the accused, their lawyers, relatives and supporters.
Kivumbi and his co-applicants filed their bail application on May 4, 2026, through their legal teams from Alaka & Company Advocates and Lukwago & Company Advocates. They argued that they were entitled to bail because they are presumed innocent under the law, have permanent residences, strong family and community ties, and reliable sureties capable of ensuring their attendance in court.
The defence further argued that the accused had spent an unreasonably long period on remand and had consistently appeared before court since their arrest in January.
In an affidavit supporting his application, Kivumbi described himself as a 52-year-old family man and former Member of Parliament who served Butambala County for about 15 years. He stated that he has permanent homes in Buwate Village in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, and Bugoye Village in Butambala District, and pledged to comply with all court conditions if released.
The defence team, led by former Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Sseggona, presented Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, Kivumbi’s sister Sarah Lutaaya and his brother Musa Lutaaya as sureties, arguing that they were substantial and capable of guaranteeing his attendance throughout the trial.
The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the application through Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police John Mary Lwebuga, the investigating officer in the case.
The prosecution argued that investigations were still ongoing and warned that releasing the accused could interfere with witnesses and evidence. It also maintained that the applicants had not sufficiently demonstrated stable residences, economic activities or other factors that would guarantee their return to court.
Prosecutors further challenged the suitability of Kivumbi’s sureties and disputed his description of himself as a statesman, noting that he no longer serves as a Member of Parliament or chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE). They argued that the seriousness of the charges made the accused potential flight risks.
Despite these objections, Justice Okalany ruled that the applicants had satisfied the legal requirements for bail and emphasized that every accused person remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case stems from allegations that Kivumbi and his co-accused coordinated attacks on Kibibi Police Station and the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre during the January 2026 general election period.
According to the prosecution, the attacks were intended to intimidate the public and disrupt government operations. Investigators allege that the incidents resulted in the destruction of public infrastructure and government vehicles, as well as the deaths of seven people.
Before Thursday’s ruling, the accused had been detained in various facilities, including Luzira Upper Prison, Kigo Prison, Kitalya Mini-Max Prison, Luzira Women’s Prison and Naguru Remand Home.
The proceedings attracted a large number of supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform, including Members of Parliament and senior party officials, who filled the courtroom under tight security provided by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force.
Following the ruling, the accused remained briefly in the court holding cells as court officials processed the required bail payments and documentation before their eventual release.
English 