KAMPALA.
The Chief Magistrates’ Court in Butambala District has rejected an application filed by lawyers representing Butambala County MP Muhamad Muwanga Kivumbi seeking an investigation into rights violation against their client when he first appeared in court.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, while appearing for the second time before Butambala Chief Magistrate Deogratious Ssejjemba, the Court delivered a ruling on the application by the defence team, stating that the Prosecution noted the lack of supportive evidence on the allegations.
“The defence council can file a formal complaint in the competent Court, supported by an affidavit. Accordingly, the prayer of the defence is not granted,” trial Magistrate told Court on February 17, 2026.Defence lawyers led by Medard Lubega Ssegona urged the Court to compel the State to indicate when the investigations would conclude.
“We want to know how we will manage the defence of the accused. Some are students and the term has already opened. They should go back to school. Others sat UCE and the results were released and UACE, the results for 2025 are expected soon. All these want to go back for further studies,” Mr Ssegona submitted.
But prosecution led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Rachael Bikhole responded that the law permits up to six months for completing investigations for which, they are still within that period.
“Our commitment is that, we shall conclude the investigation. For the students, they have a remedy. They can apply for bail but in the High Court,” she told Court.
The trial Magistrate initially adjourned the matter to March 19, 2026, for further mention but defence counsel Erias Lukwago argued that long adjournments are often abused by the State and that an earlier date would allow better monitoring of the investigation progress.
Chief Magistrate Ssejjemba revised the date to March 10, 2026, when Muwanga Kivumbi and his co-accused will appear in the same Court for case mention.
Muwanga Kivumbi and the 24 co-accused face a single count of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act stemming from the alleged violent incidents during the January 15, 2026, general election exercise.
The accused, including Muwanga Kivumbi, are represented by a team of lawyers led by Erias Lukwago, Medard Lubega Ssegona, Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa, Kenneth Paul Kakande, Jude Mbabaali, and Apollo Kwesiga.
In their earlier application for investigation on the alleged human rights violations of their client, the defence stated that Muwanga Kivumbi was prosecuted without his statement being recorded, denied access to his family, next of kin, and lawyers prior to his Court appearance.
According to State Prosecution, the accused, who include MP Muhamad Muwanga Kivumbi and the other co-accused, between January 11 and 17, 2026, in various places across the Country, including Gombe and Kibibi Town Council in Butambala District, carried out acts aimed at influencing or intimidating the government for political or economic purposes.
The State said Kivumbi, without regard for public safety, orchestrated an attack on Kibibi Police station and Butambala District Electoral Commission tally Centre, damaged sections of the Butambala-Gombe Road, and destroyed several vehicles.