A Ugandan court has once again declined to grant mandatory bail to ten supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), who have been held on remand in relation to public order and other related charges. The Kawempe Magistrate’s Court ruled that the defence had failed to demonstrate that the constitutional threshold for mandatory bail specifically the requirement that the accused have been on remand for the prescribed period without trial had been met, and therefore the legal criteria for automatic release were not satisfied.
The accused, including well‑known party mobilisers and supporters, had argued through their lawyers that they had been detained for an unreasonably long time without the conclusion of their cases or commitment to the High Court, in violation of their right to personal liberty. Defence counsel emphasised that constitutional protections should secure their release under mandatory bail provisions.
However, the prosecution opposed the applications, asserting that the legal requirements for mandatory bail were not met, and that ongoing investigations and procedural stages justified continued remand. The court noted discrepancies in the remand records and insufficient documentary evidence to support the defence claim that the six‑month statutory limit had lapsed. It also stressed that the mere pendency of investigations does not automatically entitle an accused person to bail and that mandatory bail must be precisely proved on the record.
While the court found some proposed sureties suitable, it held that this alone did not eliminate concerns about potential interference with the proceedings or witness testimony, factors that must be considered to protect the integrity of the trial. The magistrate clarified that the refusal of mandatory bail does not bar the accused from pursuing ordinary, discretionary bail applications under the law.
The ten accused remain on remand as investigations continue before the Kawempe Magistrate’s Court. They face various charges including unlawful drilling, conspiracy to commit a felony, and related public order offences linked to alleged activities at a gathering in Kawempe. The ongoing legal proceedings have drawn attention amid broader scrutiny of the treatment and detention of opposition members in the run‑up to national elections, highlighting tensions around enforcement of constitutional rights and the pace of judicial processes in politically sensitive cases.
Overall, the court’s decision underscores the complex balance between constitutional guarantees of liberty and legal thresholds for bail, especially in cases involving politically charged allegations, while reminding defence teams and courts alike of the precise evidentiary standards required for mandatory release under Ugandan law.