Butambala -Uganda
23rd January 2025.
Outgoing Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has appeared before the Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court following his arrest over alleged involvement in election-related violence during the January 15, 2026 polls.
Police accuse Kivumbi, a senior figure in the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), of participating in violent incidents that left at least ten people dead and several others injured. Authorities claim mobs attempted to attack a police station and the district tally center in the aftermath of voting.
President Yoweri Museveni, in his post-election remarks, accused opposition leaders of backing “panga-wielding” groups, describing their actions as terrorism. The allegations have intensified scrutiny of NUP figures, with several leaders reportedly detained or missing since election day.
Kivumbi, however, denies the charges. He insists that security forces raided his home in Bugoye village and killed members of his campaign team who had gathered after polls closed. His supporters argue that the case is politically motivated and part of a wider crackdown on opposition voices.
Security was tight around the Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court during Kivumbi’s appearance, underscoring the tense atmosphere surrounding the proceedings. The case is expected to continue drawing national attention as questions of accountability, political freedoms, and post-election justice remain at the forefront.
