Former Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has been granted bail by the International Crimes Division of the High Court, ending a 169-day stint on remand.
Kivumbi was arrested in January 2026 and held at Kitalya Prison on terrorism charges linked to post-election violence that erupted in Butambala District on January 15, 2026.
Prosecutors allege that Kivumbi and his co-accused orchestrated attacks on Kibibi Police Station and the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre during the election period. The attacks allegedly left property destroyed, vehicles damaged, and seven people dead. Kivumbi and his co-accused have denied the allegations.
A senior leader in the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the party’s deputy president for the Buganda region, Kivumbi previously chaired Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
The State had opposed his bail application, arguing that investigations were still ongoing and raising concerns that Kivumbi could interfere with witnesses if released. His defence team countered that he maintained a fixed place of residence, could provide substantial sureties, and had already spent a prolonged period on remand without trial.
Kivumbi was released alongside 16 other co-accused, though six others facing charges in the same case remain in custody. Specific bail conditions had not been disclosed at the time of publication.
