Nakawa NUP Councillor John Mary Ssebuwufu Further Remanded

NUP's John Mary Sebuufu in court

Overview:

There are also dozens of other supporters of the opposition NUP who were arrested during election campaigns, such as Edward Ssebufu, commonly known as Eddie Mutwe, Olivia Lutaaya, Sauda Madada, and NUP Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, who remain in Luzira prison on charges of conducting military drills without authorization by the line Minister.

National Unity Platform (NUP) member and Nakawa I Councillor John Mary Ssebuwufu has been remanded again as investigations into an incitement of violence charge against him continue.

Ssebuwufu, who also serves as Buganda NUP Electoral officer, reappeared before Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court on Tuesday, before the Court presided over by Grade One Sanula Namboozo.

He was returning today to receive an update from the Prosecution on the progress of investigations and to renew his application for bail. Ssebuwufu has been on remand at Luzira Prison for one month.

However, State Attorney Mahatma Odongo told the court that investigations were still incomplete and requested more time to conclude them.

In response, Ssebuwufu’s lawyers , led by Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa, made a fresh bail application. Muyizzi argued that the prosecution had admitted it had not finalized investigations and could not indicate when they would be complete. He criticized what he described as a growing practice of arresting suspects before completing investigations, forcing them to seek repeated bail applications. He noted that this was Ssebuwufu’s second unsuccessful attempt to secure bail.

Another defense lawyer, Jude Byamukama, said bail is a constitutional right and that Ssebuwufu is presumed innocent until proven guilty. He recounted that Ssebuwufu was arrested on January 14, 2026, allegedly detained in an undisclosed location, and remained incommunicado until his first court appearance on February 6, 2026. Byamukama stated these circumstances amount to torture and a violation of Ssebuwufu’s human rights.

Byamukama further informed the Court that Ssebuwufu has a lot of community responsibilities, including serving as Nakawa I councillor, Head of Liaty at St. Andrea Kaggwa Parish in Kigoowa, and a member of the NUP Electoral Commission. He argued that Ssebuwufu’s continued detention affects the people who depend on his services.

He then presented four people as Ssebuwufu ‘s sureties . They included his brother Godfrey Kisekka, Charles Kimali Ssekitoleko, Bukoto II Councillor Ben Mwanje, and William Joseph Ssenoga.

However, the prosecution’s Odongo informed the court that he needed additional time to examine Ssebuwufu’s allegations of torture before responding.

Despite objections from the defense, Magistrate Namboozo granted the prosecution’s request for more time, stating that the interests of justice required completion of the investigations.

Accordingly, Ssebuwufu was remanded until March 10, 2026.

Ssebuwufu is one of the top four NUP leaders who were arrested in the aftermath of, on the eve, and on election day of the January 15, 2026, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. Along with Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi, who is facing charges of terrorism, he remains on remand to date.

However, the others, including Vice President for Northern Uganda Dr. Lina Zedriga and her Western Region Counterpart who are equally facing charges of inciting violence, have since been released on bail by different courts that charged them.

There are also dozens of other supporters of the opposition NUP who were arrested during election campaigns, such as Edward Ssebufu, commonly known as Eddie Mutwe, Olivia Lutaaya, Sauda Madada, and NUP Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, who remain in Luzira prison on charges of conducting military drills without authorization by the line Minister.