Kawempe Chief Magistrate’s court has declined to grant temporary bail to opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro to attend the burial of his wife, Edith Katende Mufumbiro.
Mufumbiro, who is currently on remand, faces charges of allegedly inciting NUP youth to attack security personnel and participating in unlawful military-style drills, offences the prosecution says threaten public order and national security.
His wife passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with breast cancer. Through his legal team, Mufumbiro had petitioned the court for a brief release to enable him to attend her burial scheduled for Saturday in Luuka district.
However, in a ruling delivered Friday via a virtual court session, Chief Magistrate Doreen Ainembabazi dismissed the application, citing public interest concerns and the gravity of the charges, according to his lawyer Kato Tumusiime.
The court also found his sureties insufficient. These included Mufumbiro’s father, Moses Baligeya, a retired magistrate, and Nakawa East MP and Kampala lord mayor-elect Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga.
In her ruling, Ainembabazi emphasised that the offences carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment upon conviction. She further noted that the seriousness of the charges increased the likelihood of the accused absconding if temporarily released.
Tension flared shortly after the ruling when defence lawyers staged a walkout in protest. The lawyers declined to participate in subsequent proceedings before grade one magistrate Damalie Agumaasiimwe, who was scheduled to deliver a separate bail ruling involving 14 other NUP supporters facing similar charges.
According to Tumusiime, the protest was triggered by authorities’ failure to produce the accused physically in court, raising concerns about their right to a fair hearing and adequate legal representation.
Any of you who doubted that Uganda is under the yoke of heartless Zombies , here is to you !
Ainembabazi ( the kind one ) Agumasiimwe ( May He be always be praised) must be having the time of their blessed lives .They have the POWER and are going to use it as they chose .
First , they said that Edith was not sick; that she was playing Katemba (NUP stunts) , these night-dancers from outer space ruled that Edith`s Cancer papers were forgeries made at Nassar Road. Were they….?!
Edith had cancer , it killed her and she is surely in her coffin .
Still, they say they are not sure its Edith who died or she may not even be Waiswa`s wife !!!!!! Zombie power on display .
The other day , a man was arrested and charged for an offence of imagining that the First Lady had left us . What a crime ! Isn`t it unthinkable that some people will ever die
” Abafu baziike bannabwe..! Those of us who die will be there when Edith will be placed in her grave while her husband is denied the one and last chance to touch her lifeless body.
We sing ” Its well with my soul ” and then ask WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOD ???
This reflect the STATE OF UGANDA as a nation. We are at a point of no return. A day will come when you will see true color of Ugandans who have nothing to lose. Right now Ugandans are enduring their pains indoors, wait when it pours out on the streets. It will be unstoppable! All these memories will light up the lid of injustice and oppression.