The Butambala Chief Magistrate’s Court has temporarily suspended proceedings in a high profile terrorism case involving outgoing Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi and 24 co accused. The decision was made on March 10, 2026, during a court session presided over by Chief Magistrate Deogratias Ssejjemba.
The case was paused after concerns emerged over the ages of two of the suspects, whose identities have not been publicly disclosed. The magistrate noted that the two may be below 18 years old, which would classify them as minors under Ugandan law. Information presented before the court also indicated that some of the accused are still attending secondary school, raising further questions about their legal status and how they should be handled in the judicial process.
To address the issue, Magistrate Ssejjemba directed the Uganda Prisons Service to conduct medical examinations, including age assessments, on the two suspects in question. The court will remain on hold until the verification report is submitted and reviewed. Proceedings are expected to resume once the findings are presented.
Kivumbi, who is affiliated with the National Unity Platform, was arrested in late January 2026 alongside the other accused. They face charges under Uganda’s Anti Terrorism Act in connection with violence and deaths reported in Butambala during the January 15, 2026 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Defense lawyers, including Medard Lubega Ssegona, have previously challenged the handling of the suspects, arguing that some may have been wrongly classified as adults in order to justify their detention in adult facilities. The latest court order adds another important procedural dimension to a case that has already drawn public attention over access to hearings, restrictions on supporters, and repeated prosecution requests for more time to complete investigations.
All the accused remain on remand, with Kivumbi and others detained at facilities including Kitalya Prison. The next major development in the case is expected after the court receives the age assessment report. The suspension highlights the importance of due process, especially where juvenile suspects may be involved in serious criminal proceedings.
