BUTAMBALA, Uganda — The terrorism case against Butambala County legislator, Muwanga Kivumbi, took a contentious turn after his lawyers told court that, despite having been formally charged, the opposition politician has not yet recorded a police statement, raising renewed questions about the investigative process underpinning one of Uganda’s most high-profile post-election prosecutions.
Appearing before the Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court, presiding magistrate Deogratious Ssejemba ordered the re-reading of the terrorism charge following amendments to the charge sheet that added 24 other accused persons, bringing the total number of suspects to 25.
“This charge was read for Muwanga Kivumbi last week. The charge is for terrorism. We have to re-read it for you after you have been added to the charge sheet and others that are yet to be arrested,” the magistrate said.
Leading the defence team, Medard Lubega Sseggona told court that Kivumbi’s failure to record a statement was not deliberate non-cooperation, but stemmed from disagreements over how investigators were handling his account of events.
“To date, the accused has not recorded a statement — not out of refusal,” Sseggona said. “He insisted on recording a statement strictly based on what he personally knew and observed.”
The defence disclosed that while at Kira Police Station, Kivumbi agreed to record a statement in the presence of his lawyer Asuman Basalirwa. However, counsel said the process collapsed when Kivumbi stated that police and military personnel killed 10 people at his home during the security operation.
According to the defence, the officer recording the statement declined to proceed, insisting that the statement could only continue if all references to the alleged killings were removed.
“In effect, the statement was being dictated by a detective who was not present at the scene,” Sseggona told court.
The defence team — which also includes Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Uganda Law Society Rapid Response lawyer Robert Jurua — questioned the impartiality of the current detectives and asked court to order the appointment of independent investigators.
They further urged that investigations be expanded to cover what they described as “cold-blooded killings” allegedly committed during the operation at Kivumbi’s residence — allegations authorities have previously rejected.
Prosecutors, however, maintain that the charges are grounded in organised political violence, not disputed custodial procedures. The state alleges that between January 11 and 17, Kivumbi and others — some still at large — orchestrated coordinated attacks on Kibibi Police Station, the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre, sections of the Butambala–Gomba road, and multiple vehicles.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged acts were carried out “for purposes of influencing the government or intimidating the public” and directly resulted in the deaths of seven people. The prosecution says investigations are ongoing and has described them as “guided investigations” under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Lukwago separately objected to the amendment of the charge sheet, arguing that the late addition of 24 accused persons amounted to an ambush and was prejudicial to the defence — particularly as preparations for bail applications had already been undertaken by the Uganda Law Society Rapid Response team, led by Anthony Asiimwe.
He asked court to grant bail to all 25 accused persons.
In a later development, the prosecution informed court that it had withdrawn seven earlier charges and prayed that proceedings on them be terminated, saying they had been consolidated into the single terrorism count.
As a result, bail applications linked to the withdrawn charges were halted.
Court adjourned the matter to 17 February 2026, with authorities informing court that the male accused persons will be transferred to Kitalya Mini-Max Prison, while the female suspects will be remanded to Luzira Women’s Prison.
Appearing before the Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court, presiding magistrate Deogratious Ssejemba ordered the re-reading of the terrorism charge following amendments to the charge sheet that added 24 other accused persons, bringing the total number of suspects to 25.
“This charge was read for Muwanga Kivumbi last week. The charge is for terrorism. We have to re-read it for you after you have been added to the charge sheet and others that are yet to be arrested,” the magistrate said.
Leading the defence team, Medard Lubega Sseggona told court that Kivumbi’s failure to record a statement was not deliberate non-cooperation, but stemmed from disagreements over how investigators were handling his account of events.
“To date, the accused has not recorded a statement — not out of refusal,” Sseggona said. “He insisted on recording a statement strictly based on what he personally knew and observed.”
The defence disclosed that while at Kira Police Station, Kivumbi agreed to record a statement in the presence of his lawyer Asuman Basalirwa. However, counsel said the process collapsed when Kivumbi stated that police and military personnel killed 10 people at his home during the security operation.
According to the defence, the officer recording the statement declined to proceed, insisting that the statement could only continue if all references to the alleged killings were removed.
“In effect, the statement was being dictated by a detective who was not present at the scene,” Sseggona told court.
The defence team — which also includes Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Uganda Law Society Rapid Response lawyer Robert Jurua — questioned the impartiality of the current detectives and asked court to order the appointment of independent investigators.
They further urged that investigations be expanded to cover what they described as “cold-blooded killings” allegedly committed during the operation at Kivumbi’s residence — allegations authorities have previously rejected.
Prosecutors, however, maintain that the charges are grounded in organised political violence, not disputed custodial procedures. The state alleges that between January 11 and 17, Kivumbi and others — some still at large — orchestrated coordinated attacks on Kibibi Police Station, the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre, sections of the Butambala–Gomba road, and multiple vehicles.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged acts were carried out “for purposes of influencing the government or intimidating the public” and directly resulted in the deaths of seven people. The prosecution says investigations are ongoing and has described them as “guided investigations” under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Lukwago separately objected to the amendment of the charge sheet, arguing that the late addition of 24 accused persons amounted to an ambush and was prejudicial to the defence — particularly as preparations for bail applications had already been undertaken by the Uganda Law Society Rapid Response team, led by Anthony Asiimwe.
He asked court to grant bail to all 25 accused persons.
In a later development, the prosecution informed court that it had withdrawn seven earlier charges and prayed that proceedings on them be terminated, saying they had been consolidated into the single terrorism count.
As a result, bail applications linked to the withdrawn charges were halted.
Court adjourned the matter to 17 February 2026, with authorities informing court that the male accused persons will be transferred to Kitalya Mini-Max Prison, while the female suspects will be remanded to Luzira Women’s Prison.