Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi Granted Bail After 169 Days on Remand Over Terrorism Charges
KAMPALA, Uganda — Former Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has been granted bail by the International Crimes Division of the High Court after spending 169 days on remand in connection with terrorism charges linked to the January 2026 post-election violence in Butambala District.
Kivumbi, a senior leader in the National Unity Platform (NUP), was arrested in January 2026 and has been detained at Kitalya Prison as prosecutors pursued charges arising from the unrest that followed the January 15, 2026 elections.
According to the prosecution, Kivumbi and his co-accused allegedly coordinated attacks on Kibibi Police Station and the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre during the election period.
The State further alleges that the attacks resulted in widespread destruction of property, damage to several vehicles, and the deaths of seven people. However, Kivumbi and all his co-accused have denied the charges and maintain their innocence.
The High Court granted Kivumbi temporary release despite strong objections from the prosecution, which argued that investigations into the case were still ongoing. State prosecutors also expressed concerns that releasing the accused could lead to interference with witnesses.
The defence team countered that Kivumbi had demonstrated that he has permanent places of residence, reliable sureties, and had already spent an extended period in custody without trial, making him eligible for bail.
Kivumbi was released alongside 16 other co-accused persons, while six suspects who were remanded with him remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
The court had not immediately released the specific bail conditions at the time of publication.
Kivumbi’s Political Career
Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi is a former Member of Parliament for Butambala County and serves as the National Unity Platform Deputy President for Buganda.
During his time in Parliament, he also chaired the influential Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), where he gained national attention for leading investigations into public sector accountability.
His release marks a significant development in one of Uganda’s closely watched post-election criminal cases, which remains before the International Crimes Division as investigations and trial preparations continue.
