NUP’s Mufumbiro, Madaada remanded over ‘unlawful military drills’

Two National Unity Platform (NUP) officials, Sauda Madaada and the party’s deputy spokesperson, Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, have been charged and remanded to Luzira Prison on allegations of conducting unlawful military drills.

The pair appeared on Wednesday before the Kawempe Chief Magistrate’s court, presided over by grade one magistrate Damalie Agumasiimwe. They face charges of conducting military-style exercises without authorization and conspiring with seven other NUP members who are already in detention.

Those previously charged include Tasi Calvin alias Bobi Giant, Edwin Serunkuuma alias Eddie King Kabenja, Sharif Lukenge, Yasin Nyanzi, and Tonny Kaweesi. The first group of suspects; Edward Sebuufu alias Eddie Mutwe and Achileo Kivumbi, has been on remand for nearly five months.

Madaada, recently nominated as an independent candidate for Kampala Central Division Councillor after failing to secure the NUP party ticket, was arrested at the Uganda–Kenya border in Busia.

She was transported to Kampala and spent a night at Kira Road police station, where she later met Mufumbiro, who had been arrested on Monday outside Kawempe court premises.

According to the prosecution, on February 12, 2025, at the NUP offices in Makerere-Kavule, Wandegeya, Kawempe Division, the duo attended a gathering allegedly involving training participants in military exercises, movements, and evolutions without ministerial permission, contrary to Section 45(1)(b) of the Penal Code Act.

In a separate count, they are accused of conspiring to commit a felony under Section 363 of the Penal Code Act. Both Madaada and Mufumbiro denied the charges and applied for bail, presenting prominent sureties, including: Baligeya Moses Mufumbiro, Alex’s 63-year-old father, Nakawa East MP Ronald Balimwezo, 55, Edith Katende, Alex’s wife, 43, Zahara Luyurika Maara, KCCA Speaker, 40, Ronald Serunjogi, Kawempe Division Mayor Lukoda Kariim, a businessman.

Despite the strong sureties, the court remanded the two until September 29, 2025, to allow the prosecution time to respond to their bail applications. Speaking before the hearing, Mufumbiro declared he was not afraid of imprisonment and reaffirmed his loyalty to NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine.

He stressed that his struggle was not about individuals but about building a better Uganda, with a truly independent judiciary.