The Mbarara District Police Commander, SP Kenneth Kabwigo Gumisiriza, has told court that he still receives threats related to the arrest and remand of 38 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who were charged last month.
Kabwigo made the remarks on Thursday as the group appeared before Grade One Magistrate Alex Baguma for the sixth time since their arrest.
“The way we were attacked, my colleagues and I, while we executed our duty, and from that time up to date we still receive threats because of the arrests we made. It is on the basis of that that we pray to this honourable court that the bail application is not granted,” Kabwigo said.
State attorneys Davis Ariho and Jacob Nahurira asked court to reject the application, arguing that the accused could interfere with evidence and witnesses if released.
They told court that the applicants had failed to present substantial sureties and had not met requirements under guideline 12 of the Court of Judicature, with some failing to provide original national identity cards or introductory letters, and others presenting sureties from outside the court’s jurisdiction.
“Some of the applicants did not avail to court their original national identity cards and introductory letters from their areas of residence, some presented sureties from outside this court jurisdiction. But also granting the applicants bail is likely to interfere with the constitutional eyewitnesses in this matter during trial,” Ariho said.
Nahurira added: “This was an offence that involved violence and obstruction of law enforcement officers, indicating that once released on bail, they will interfere with our investigations or our evidence. It is our prayer that the application be dismissed.”
Defence lawyers led by Allan Musasire challenged the state’s position, calling it an attempt to frustrate the case.
“The allegation of violence is an afterthought. My learned brother Ariho categorically stated that investigations were ongoing, therefore they needed their witnesses protected. It is our prayer that this honourable court disregards the said objection since the learned state attorneys omitted any indication to violence in the charge sheet that is before court,” Musasire said.
He also dismissed the state’s objection regarding sureties: “On the objection that the sureties of some of the accused persons are not from the jurisdiction of this area, we find this an amateur submission, baseless without any legal backing.
"The bail guideline cited by my colleague has no requirement for sureties to come from the jurisdiction of that particular court.”
Magistrate Baguma adjourned the matter to December 22, 2025, at 10am for ruling on the bail application.