The Kanyanya Magistrates Court has turned down a request for temporary bail by National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, effectively blocking him from attending the burial of his late wife, Edith Mufumbiro Katende.
Katende died on Wednesday after a long illness, sparking a heartfelt appeal from Mufumbiro, who is currently detained at Luzira Prison.
In his written plea to Chief Justice Flavian Zeija, Mufumbiro asked to be granted temporary release, saying his wife had expressed a final wish for him to be present during her last moments and to personally lay her to rest.
He described the request as a matter of dignity and family obligation, emphasizing the emotional weight of being absent during such a critical moment in his family’s life.
Despite the circumstances, the court, in a virtual session, denied the application and ordered that he remains on remand. The ruling means Mufumbiro will miss both the burial arrangements and the funeral rites of his wife.
Mufumbiro is jointly charged with several other NUP members, among them Edward Ssebufu, widely known as Eddie Mutwe, the head of security for NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
The group faces charges of unlawful drilling and conspiracy to commit a felony, linked to alleged military-style training conducted at NUP offices in Makerere-Kavule in February 2025.
The decision has stirred debate among observers, with some questioning whether courts should exercise more discretion in cases involving bereavement, even as judicial authorities continue to emphasize adherence to legal standards and procedure.
 Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro){kind=link}