Kampala, Uganda — The Kanyanya Magistrates Court has denied a request for temporary release by Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, effectively preventing him from attending the burial of his wife, Edith Mufumbiro Katende.
Katende passed away on Wednesday following a prolonged battle with cancer. In the wake of her death, Mufumbiro had written to Chief Justice Flavian Zeija seeking temporary bail to allow him to be present during her final rites.
In his appeal, Mufumbiro expressed deep grief and said it had been his wife’s final wish that he be by her side and give her a dignified send-off. He urged the judiciary to consider the humanitarian and cultural significance of his request, noting that his absence would deny him the opportunity to fulfil important family obligations.
However, during proceedings conducted via video link, the court ruled against the application, ordering that he remains on remand at Luzira Prison.
Mufumbiro, who serves as deputy spokesperson of the National Unity Platform (NUP), is jointly charged with seven others, including Edward Ssebufu, the head of security for NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
The group faces charges of unlawful drilling and conspiracy to commit a felony, linked to alleged military-style training activities at the party’s Makerere-Kavule offices in February 2025.
The court’s decision highlights the firm stance taken in ongoing criminal proceedings, even amid personal tragedy, and is likely to reignite debate over the balance between strict legal processes and humanitarian considerations within Uganda’s justice system.
