Veteran journalist and political commentator Timothy Kalyegira has been granted cash bail of Shs650,000 by the Kira Magistrate’s Court after spending several days on remand over charges of allegedly broadcasting without a licence.
Kalyegira, who appeared in court in handcuffs on Friday for the hearing of his bail application, is facing two counts of broadcasting without a licence under Section 28(1) and (2) of the Uganda Communications Act. The charges relate to his alleged operation of the online platforms The Kampala Express and The Uganda Records without authorization from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
During the bail hearing, the prosecution opposed his release, arguing that Kalyegira’s large social media following could potentially intimidate witnesses in the case.
According to Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, who attended the proceedings, the prosecution also questioned whether the accused had established a fixed place of abode because he did not present a land title. Prosecutors further objected to his younger brother, Keith Kalyegira, serving as a surety, arguing that at 55 years old he was “too young” to guarantee the return of his 58-year-old brother to court.
“We are at Kira Magistrate’s Court for @TimKalyegira’s bail application hearing. The State Prosecutor is opposing bail, arguing that Tim’s large social media following could intimidate witnesses. She also notes the lack of a land title to prove a fixed place of abode, and claims his younger brother, Keith (55), is ‘too young’ to guarantee the return of Tim (58) to court,” Nyanjura posted on X before the ruling.
After standing down the matter for about 30 minutes, the magistrate ruled in Kalyegira’s favour, granting him cash bail of Shs650,000. The court adjourned the case until August 4, 2026, when the trial is expected to continue.
Following the ruling, Nyanjura criticized what she described as unequal treatment of suspects in Uganda’s criminal justice system.
“Timothy Kalyegira, accused of allegedly broadcasting without a license, was in handcuffs as he appeared in court. On the other hand, Chris Obore and his six colleagues, accused of stealing over Shs27 billion, were not handcuffed at any point during their arrest or journey to court,” she wrote on X.
Kalyegira was first arraigned before the Kira Chief Magistrate’s Court on June 29 after police investigations under Criminal Reference Book (CRB) 475/2026. Prosecutors allege that between 2013 and 2026 he operated The Kampala Express, and between 2014 and 2026 The Uganda Records, without obtaining the mandatory broadcasting licences from the UCC. He denied both charges and was remanded to prison pending his bail application.
The prosecution has not yet publicly disclosed the evidence it intends to rely on during the trial. The case has drawn significant attention from journalists, media practitioners and free expression advocates, who argue it could have wider implications for the regulation of online publishers and digital media platforms in Uganda.
