NUP Ankole Coordinator granted bail

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Bright Muhumuza, the National Unity Platform (NUP) coordinator for the Ankole sub-region, was granted bail by a Grade One Magistrate at Mbarara Court on Wednesday, February 11.

Heavy security was deployed outside the court to deter any commotion by NUP supporters. However, only his close friends, relatives and sureties turned up.

Muhumuza appeared before Magistrate Grade One, Ochieng Yafesi, on charges of committing a rash and negligent act, contrary to Section 211(a) of the Penal Code Act.

The state prosecutor Kabasita Shama also submitted an amendment to the earlier charge of failure to comply with police officers' directives according to the Traffic and Road Safety Act 2024.

According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that on November 8, 2025, at Kyamugorani Cell in Mbarara City, along Kyamugorani Road near RAD Motel, Muhumuza was driving a motor vehicle, registration number UAY, in a manner deemed rash or negligent and likely to cause harm to SP Kenneth Kabwigo Gumisiriza, the Mbarara City Division DPC.

Muhumuza denied all the charges, and his team of lawyers including; Bruno Muhanguzi, Modern Atuhurire, Isaac Murindwa and Honorato Muhanguzi, proceeded to ask for their client’s bail.

However, the state prosecutor told the court that the state is done with investigations and is ready to commence with the hearing of the case. The principal state witness (Kabwigo) was also ready in court.

The defence lawyers argued that they were furnished with court documents five minutes before the court’s time and were not ready to proceed with the hearing.

The magistrate concurred with the defence lawyers and asked them to present sureties. After scrutinising all the documents for the sureties, the magistrate granted him bail and set March 12, 2026, as the date for the hearing.

In the polls, Muhumuza, who missed the voting exercise, lost to the incumbent, Mwine Mpaka (NRM), who was re-elected after the electoral commission declared him the winner.