Senior National Unity Platform (NUP) party leaders have rallied behind the party’s Buganda Regional Deputy President, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, as he appeared before Butambala Chief Magistrates’ Court over fresh criminal charges.
The delegation included acting NUP President John Nambeshe, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi and former Mityana MP Francis Zaake, who attended the proceedings in solidarity with the former Butambala County legislator.
Kivumbi, who arrived at the court before Chief Magistrate Her Worship Aminah Wahab under police escort on Friday, August 14th, 2026, faces charges of inciting violence and managing an unlawful society, allegations he denies.
Instead of delivering a ruling on his bail application as earlier expected, court adjourned the case to August 25th, 2026. The magistrate will also rule on a prosecution application seeking to stop the live streaming of proceedings.
The latest charges were filed shortly after Kivumbi secured bail in a separate terrorism case before the International Crimes Division of the High Court.
On July 9th, the High Court granted Kivumbi cash bail of UGX 10 million after he had spent about six months on remand. His 23 co-accused were each granted cash bail of UGX 1 million.
The terrorism case stems from violence reported in Butambala during the January 15th, 2026, general elections, in which prosecutors allege that seven people were killed. Kivumbi has denied any involvement in the alleged offences.
His release was followed by the fresh charges before the Butambala Chief Magistrates’ Court, triggering another round of legal proceedings.
Kivumbi, a senior NUP official and former legislator, has become one of the opposition figures facing closely watched court proceedings following the 2026 elections. The allegations against him remain before court, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
