KAMPALA. Outgoing Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, together with 24 co-accused persons, has applied for bail before the International Crimes Division of the High Court as they battle terrorism-related charges.
The group, currently on remand at Kitalya Mini Max Prison, Naguru remand home and Luzira Women’s Prison respectively, filed a joint application seeking temporary release on bail pending trial.
According to the application, the accused argues that they have spent months on remand without committal to the High Court for trial, with the prosecution repeatedly citing ongoing investigations.
“The applicants have on several occasions appeared before the Chief Magistrates Court of Butambala but have not yet been committed for trial, and no hearing date has been fixed, and the matter is characterised by procrastination on account of ongoing investigations,” the court documents state in part.
Mr Kivumbi,52 who is also the Vice President for Central Uganda in the opposition National Unity Platform, was arrested on January 21, 2026, and later arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Butambala on charges of terrorism contrary to the Anti-Terrorism Act.
His co-accused had earlier been charged with incitement to violence and malicious damage to property after their arrests between January 14 and January 20, 2026.
However, the prosecution later dropped those charges and amended the charge sheet to include all the accused persons on terrorism charges.
“The offence with which the applicants are charged is only triable by the High Court of Uganda and is therefore bailable by this Honourable Court,” the application reads.
In an affidavit supporting the application, Mr Kivumbi described himself as a law-abiding citizen with deep community roots and longstanding public service.
“I have good antecedents, with no criminal record of conviction, and I am a law-abiding citizen who not only upholds the Rule of law but is a fervent and ardent defender of the same,” Mr Kivumbi states in his affidavit.
The legislator further told the court that he has fixed places of abode in both Wakiso and Butambala districts and would comply with any conditions imposed by the court if granted bail.
“I undertake to abide by all bail conditions that this Honourable Court may impose and I will not abscond from trial,” he stated.
Mr Kivumbi also argued that continued detention was affecting his constitutional duties as an elected leader.
The MP told the court that he has served Butambala County for 15 years and currently chairs Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
As part of his bail application, Mr Kivumbi presented five proposed sureties, among them Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi and David Lewis Rubongoya.
The applicants contend that they are responsible citizens with permanent places of residence and substantial sureties capable of ensuring their appearance in court.
“It is in the interest of justice, fairness, and the constitutional doctrine of presumption of innocence that the Applicants be granted bail,” the application states.
The case stems from events that allegedly occurred in Butambala District earlier this year, although the prosecution has not yet disclosed full particulars of the evidence against the accused.
The International Crimes Division is yet to fix the bail application for hearing.
Background
Court records indicate that between January 11 and 17, 2026, in areas including Gombe and Kibibi Town Council in Butambala District, Kivumbi and others still at large, allegedly carried out acts intended to influence or intimidate the government for political or economic purposes.
Prosecution alleges that Kivumbi and his co-accused orchestrated attacks on Kibibi Police Station and the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre without regard for public safety.
The alleged attacks are said to have resulted in the deaths of seven people.