BY PETER LUZINDA
The Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court has further remanded the Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi alongside 24 other additional suspects who have been added to the ongoing terrorism case against him.
On Tuesday, the prosecution amended the original charge sheet to include 24 other suspects who were allegedly involved in the violent acts during the election period that reportedly led to the shooting to death of seven civilians by security personnel in Butambala.
According to prosecution, Kivumbi along with others at larger between January 11 and January 17, 2026, Kivumbi, coordinated and carried out a series of violent attacks in Kibibi Town Council and Gombe Town Council in Butambala District.
The group was on Tuesday reread the charges which are contrary to Section 6(1) (a) and Section 3(o) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, Cap 120.
Although kivumbi’s lead lawyer Erias Lukwago, objected to the amendment of the charge sheet particularly the addition of 24 other accused persons, while informing court that the move amounts to an ambush which is inconsistent with the law, the chief magistrate over ruled his objection.
The suspects named in court include Buruhan Matovu, Akram Bukenya Tumusiime, Wilson Bulinda, Swabur Wagolina, Niclas Kiberu, Fahad Kasozi, Kelvin Kayanja, Twaib Sessanga, Brian Sewanyana, Brian Mwanguzi, Nicholas Walakira, Musa Sekaggo, Joseph Wakikatu, Rahim Mubiru, Jonathan Ssentongo, Madina Ssemaganda, Hanifa Nakibuuka, Paul Mawanda, Jackson Ddungu, Yusuf Ramadhan Kiwanuka and Brian Owori.
The Butambala Chief Magistrate Deogratious Ssejjemba remanded the 25 suspects to Kitalya military prison until February 17th when the case will come up for mention before the same court, this is after state prosecution informed court that it needed more time to investigate the suspects.
While addressing journalists after the Tuesday hearing, lead lawyer Lukwago criticised the prosecutions investigation calling it lopsided since according to him, it focuses on only a single issue of incitement of violence or acts which they consider to be acts of terrorism that led to the death of seven people.
“But they are not investigating a very serious grave offence of cold blood murder, perpetrated by the army and the police at the home of Hon Muwanga Kivumbi, despite the fact that they got sufficient information when he was recording a statement and also they also captured these facts, the particulars within the charge sheet” he said.
Lukwago further notes that although the prosecution is mentioning the seven dead people, it has failed to state who shot them dead.
“They are talking about seven people but they are not mentioning who actually pulled the trigger and killed these seven people or ten people and whether they are being investigated, they are going to be brought to book or they are going to be charged, they are just mute about it” he said.
Lukwago reasserted that this is an abuse of the powers of the DPP which is totally unacceptable.
“It’s abuse of the powers of the DPP under article 120 of the constitution and we are insisting on that matter being pursued vigorously” he said.