Court delays bail decision for Eddie Mutwe and Waiswa Mufumbiro

The Kanyanya Chief Magistrates Court has adjourned the bail ruling for Eddie Mutwe and Waiswa Mufumbiro, along with other co-accused supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP), to 27 March.

The postponement follows the absence of the trial magistrate, Damalie Agumasiimwe, who delegated another magistrate to notify the court of the adjournment.

The ruling, initially expected this week, will now coincide with a decision on whether to allow media coverage of the trial, a move that has drawn attention from both local and national media outlets.

Mutwe, Mufumbiro, and other members of the group face charges linked to military drills. Prosecutors allege the accused organised a mock military parade at the NUP party headquarters in Kavule, Kampala, in celebration of the birthday of the party president, Robert Kyagulanyi. Authorities say the display contravened military and public order laws.

Observers say the adjournment highlights the procedural delays in high-profile political cases in Uganda, with bail decisions and rulings on media access being critical to the pace and transparency of such trials.

Supporters of the accused have been following proceedings closely, citing concerns over restrictions on media reporting and the potential impact on the defendants’ rights.

The next hearing, on 27 March, is expected to clarify both the bail applications and the court’s stance on press access to the trial.