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Mabirizi seeks mandatory bail in chief justice insult case
When he appeared in court today, Monday, July 27, 2026, Mabirizi asked Buganda Road Court Magistrate Winnie Nankya to release him on mandatory bail, having spent over six months on remand without trial.
Lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi argued that he is entitled to mandatory bail having spent over six months on remand without trial. (File photo)
By: Farooq Kasule and Sophia Kagoya, Journalists @New Vision
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Lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi, who has been indicted with broadcasting without a license and publishing false information against Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija and Court of Appeal justice Musa Ssekaana, is seeking to be released on mandatory bail.
Mabirizi argued that he is entitled to mandatory bail having spent over six months on remand without trial.
When he appeared in court today, Monday, July 27, 2026, Mabirizi asked Buganda Road Court Magistrate Winnie Nankya to release him on mandatory bail, having spent over six months on remand without trial.
However, the magistrate advised Mabirizi to wait until August 11, 2026, when his application will be heard by the presiding Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa.
“My instructions are to only adjourn your case. I accordingly adjourn this matter until August 11, 2026, and you are remanded until then,” Nankya ruled.
Charges
The charges against Mabirizi stem from an audio-visual video published on his alleged TikTok account in which he called Chief Justice Zeija and Justice Ssekaana “conmen” and “fraudsters.”
According to the charge sheet, Mabirizi allegedly, via his TikTok account @male. Mabirizi accessed through a telecommunication platform of Airtel Uganda Limited using his SIM card (concealed), published an audio-visual news story in which he stated that the Chief Justice (Zeija) is a conman, corrupt and a land grabber, who allegedly sold his property to pay a bribe for his appointment as Principal Judge, which statements the prosecution contends are false.
“My instructions are to only adjourn your case. I accordingly adjourn this matter until August 11, 2026, and you are remanded until then,” Nankya ruled.
Charges
The charges against Mabirizi stem from an audio-visual video published on his alleged TikTok account in which he called Chief Justice Zeija and Justice Ssekaana “conmen” and “fraudsters.”
According to the charge sheet, Mabirizi allegedly, via his TikTok account @male. Mabirizi accessed through a telecommunication platform of Airtel Uganda Limited using his SIM card (concealed), published an audio-visual news story in which he stated that the Chief Justice (Zeija) is a conman, corrupt and a land grabber, who allegedly sold his property to pay a bribe for his appointment as Principal Judge, which statements the prosecution contends are false.
Justice Zeija joined the Judiciary in 2016 following his appointment as a judge of the High Court by President Yoweri Museveni on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). Three years later, in December 2019, he was elevated to the position of Principal Judge.
In February last year, Zeija was appointed Deputy Chief Justice, a role he held until January 21 this year, when he assumed office as Chief Justice, replacing Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, who retired on January 18 this year, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The second charge is publishing fake news. Prosecution alleges that on the same day, Mabirizi, via the same TikTok account, published an audio-visual news story in which he stated that Justice Ssekaana is also a conman and a fraudster.
In February last year, Zeija was appointed Deputy Chief Justice, a role he held until January 21 this year, when he assumed office as Chief Justice, replacing Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, who retired on January 18 this year, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The second charge is publishing fake news. Prosecution alleges that on the same day, Mabirizi, via the same TikTok account, published an audio-visual news story in which he stated that Justice Ssekaana is also a conman and a fraudster.
The offence is drawn from regulation 110(e) of the Uganda Communications Commission Licensing Regulations of 2019.