Kira Magistrates’ Court has remanded three supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) to Luzira Maximum Security Prison after bail proceedings were adjourned following technical challenges during the court session.
The accused — Habib Buwembo, a prominent NUP mobiliser, Ronald Lubwama Batabaale and Josephine Nakabo — were on Tuesday arraigned before Magistrate Ivan Sseguya and charged with unlawful assembly.
The trio applied for bail, with their lawyers indicating readiness to present sureties. However, the hearing was deferred to Wednesday after the court encountered difficulties accessing case files on its digital system due to internet connectivity problems.
The proceedings, which began late in the afternoon, attracted a number of NUP supporters who were present in court, some of whom were expected to stand as sureties.
As the court attempted to proceed, Magistrate Sseguya was unable to access the required documentation on the court’s online platform, prompting a temporary suspension of the session. The disruption highlighted the court’s reliance on digital systems and the impact of unstable internet connectivity on judicial proceedings.
During the interruption, the prosecution objected to the bail application, questioning the suitability of the proposed sureties and requesting additional time to verify them. The state asked court to defer consideration of bail until proper vetting had been conducted.
Magistrate Sseguya agreed with the prosecution’s request and ruled that the accused be remanded to Luzira Prison as the court awaits a fresh hearing of the bail application.
The bail hearing was scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
Speaking after the ruling, defence lawyer Samuel Muyizi expressed concern over the continued detention of his clients, asking court to consider alternative detention arrangements outside Luzira to ease access for their families and reduce pressure on the prison facility.
Muyizi also claimed that the arrests were politically motivated, alleging that more than 700 NUP supporters across the country had been detained since the recent general elections because of their political affiliation.
He further criticised the continued restrictions on internet access, saying the disruptions were affecting daily life, economic activity and the administration of justice.
The three accused are reportedly active in ongoing political campaigns ahead of polling scheduled for Thursday, raising concerns among their supporters about the impact of their detention on electoral activities.
The court is expected to revisit the bail application when proceedings resume.