Politics 5 June 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
NUP's Alex Mufumbiro Denied Mandatory Bail Despite Meeting Legal Threshold
The Kawempe-Kanyanya Chief Magistrate's Court has denied a mandatory bail application for National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, who has been on remand for over 60 days on incitement charges. The court cited public interest and administration of justice concerns. Source: https://observer.ug/news/mufumbiro-denied-mandatory-bail-after-over-60-days-on-remand-without-trial
Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, the deputy spokesperson for the National Unity Platform (NUP), has been denied mandatory bail by the Chief Magistrate’s court at Kawempe-Kanyanya. Mufumbiro faces charges of incitement to violence and had spent over 60 days on remand, a period that typically qualifies an accused for mandatory release under Ugandan law.
In her ruling, acting Chief Magistrate Doreen Ainembabazi acknowledged that Mufumbiro met the constitutional threshold for mandatory bail. However, she stated that considerations of public interest and the proper administration of justice necessitated his continued detention.
Mufumbiro was remanded on February 27, 2026, for incitement to violence. His legal team, led by Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa and Kato Tumusiime, argued that Article 23 of the Constitution and Section 76 of the Magistrates Courts Act entitled him to bail due to the delay in commencing his trial.
The defence highlighted Mufumbiro’s personal circumstances, including recently losing his wife and being the sole guardian of eight children. They also presented three sureties, including his father, a retired chief magistrate. The prosecution, however, argued that readiness to commence trial, witness protection, and public security concerns justified denying bail.
While the magistrate agreed that the prosecution had shown readiness for trial by producing a witness and disclosing evidence, she ultimately ruled that these factors, along with concerns for public order and witness safety, outweighed Mufumbiro’s claim for bail at this stage. Mufumbiro remains on remand, also facing separate charges related to alleged unlawful military drills.
This ruling comes after the case was initially dismissed for lack of jurisdiction before being refiled in the Kawempe-Kanyanya court. The prosecution’s argument focused on the gravity of the offence and the need to maintain public order. The final decision suggests that while the legal threshold for mandatory bail was met, other overriding factors were considered by the court.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)