Businesswoman remanded over allegedly defaming Kampala ministers
A 46-year-old businesswoman, Susan Kushaba, has been remanded until November 17 after appearing in court over TikTok and online posts allegedly accusing Kampala ministers Minsa Kabanda and Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye of fraud and land grabbing. The court adjourned her bail hearing to allow the prosecution to verify her sureties’ documents.
Susan Kushaba appears in the dock at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court, where she faces charges of sending false distress signals through TikTok videos concerning Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda and State Minister Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye. (Photo by Barbra Kabahumuza)
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The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court has remanded a 46-year-old businesswoman accused of publishing TikTok videos allegedly accusing Kampala minister Minsa Kabanda and Kampala state minister Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye of fraud and land grabbing.
Chief magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa remanded Susan Kushaba, a resident of Namugongo in Kira Municipality, until November 17, 2026, when the court will resume hearing her bail application.
Kushaba appeared before the court facing four counts of sending false distress signals, contrary to Section 82 of the Uganda Communications Act.
The prosecution alleges that Kushaba uploaded a video on her TikTok account accusing Kabanda of being a fraudster and land grabber.
In another count, the prosecution alleges that between January and October 2026, in Mukono and other areas, Kushaba published information accusing Kyofatogabye of being a fraudster who had embezzled money belonging to boda boda riders and taxi operators.
She is also accused of publishing information on the Investigator Uganda platform alleging that Katumba Mirundi stole land belonging to Kamwokya KCCA Primary School.
After taking plea, Kushaba applied for bail and presented three sureties.
The sureties included Ben Serugo, a businessman dealing in cattle at Uganda Meat Packers along Old Port Bell Road; Sam Bukenya, a businessman dealing in soap and candle-making chemicals at Ngabi Chemicals in Kisugu Market; and Paddy Kawuma, a resident of Butto Zone in Bweyogerere.
Kushaba told the court that she operates S&K Supermarket at Corner House in Butto zone, Bweyogerere.
However, the prosecution asked for more time to verify the documents presented by the sureties and prepare affidavits in response to the bail application.
Mucunguzi told the court that the prosecution was not ready to respond to the application without first verifying the documents and filing supporting affidavits.
Bautu asked the court to grant his client interim bail as the prosecution verified the sureties' documents.
Bautu further told the court that Kushaba had presented herself to the police on November 2, 2026, after being summoned.
In her ruling, Kidasa said the right of an accused person to apply for bail is guaranteed by the Constitution and that the prosecution is entitled to reasonable time to respond to such an application.
She said the court needed to be satisfied that the documents presented by the sureties had been verified, since they formed the basis of the bail application.
The magistrate said she was not persuaded that the prosecution had verified all the documents of the three sureties, given that they had only been uploaded the previous day.
She consequently granted the prosecution's request for an adjournment but declined the application for interim bail.
Kidasa said interim bail was not provided for under the Magistrates Courts Act, adding that cases in which the High Court had granted such bail, including that of Dr Kizza Besigye, involved exceptional circumstances and a pending constitutional reference.
The case was adjourned to November 17, 2026, for further hearing of the bail application, while Kushaba was remanded.