Bushenyi court grants bail to NUP registrar in hate speech case

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Bushenyi District Grade One Magistrate's Court has granted bail to Pathy Mbabazi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) district registrar, who was arrested over alleged computer misuse and hate speech against President Yoweri Museveni and his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces.

Mbabazi was arrested on March 3, 2025, in Ishaka town, Bushenyi, and remanded to Nyamushekyera Government Prison for two weeks.

Presiding over the case, Bushenyi Grade One Magistrate Emmanuel Niyokwizera granted her bail on the grounds that she had no prior criminal record.

"After careful consideration of submissions from both the defence and prosecution, I grant a cash bail of sh100,000, with each surety required to pay sh5 million," Niyokwizera stated.

Mbabazi’s bail terms include a cash payment of sh100,000, while each of her sureties must pay sh5 million. She is scheduled to return to court on April 16, 2025, with the bail money refundable after the case.

Earlier, Joshua Tumukunde, the lead defence lawyer, argued that the accused was a first-time offender and a single mother.

Reacting to the ruling, Godfrey Bainomugisha, NUP’s district chairman for Greater Bushenyi, welcomed the decision, saying it reaffirmed the presence of justice in the country.

"The court has demonstrated that justice still prevails, and I believe minor issues like these should not provoke the President and his son," Bainomugisha remarked.