KAMPALA.
Court on Thursday released the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy president for western region, Jolly Jacklyn Tukamushaba, on cash bail in a case accusing her of inciting political violence.
The Kabale Chief Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Derrick Byamugisha, granted Tukamushaba bail of Shs1 million with four sureties bonded Shs5 million each, not cash. The case was adjourned to February 24 for further hearing.
Tukamushaba, 50, was arrested on January 14 by unidentified security operatives in an election-related crackdown while preparing appointment letters for her campaign agents ahead of the Rukiga District woman parliamentary race.
She was first produced in court on February 6 and remanded to Ndorwa government prison after pleading not guilty to charges of incitement to violence under Section 79(1) of the Penal Code Act.
Prosecutors allege that between December 2025 and January 2026, at various locations in western Uganda, including Rukiga, Kabale and Rukungiri districts, she incited people to attack supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) on the basis of their political opinions.
Through her lawyers, Godwin Masereka and Innocent Muhereza of Elgon Advocates, Tukamushaba applied for bail, presenting four sureties, including a Kabale City councillor and senior regional officials of the National Unity Platform.
State prosecutors opposed the application, arguing that investigations were still ongoing and that her release could interfere with inquiries.
They also questioned the adequacy of documentation presented by the sureties and asked court to impose strict bail conditions.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Byamugisha said the prosecution had failed to demonstrate how Tukamushaba would interfere with investigations.
“The sureties were properly introduced in court and the state did not show how the accused would interfere with investigations,” he ruled, granting bail and setting the terms.
Despite her arrest on the eve of polling, Tukamushaba contested the Rukiga District woman parliamentary seat, polling 3,195 votes.
She lost to NRM’s Sylvia Arinaitwe, who secured 37,239 votes, while independent candidate Hellen Kobutesi Kworoba received 888 votes.