Why Court Denied Lawyer Mabirizi Bail

Kampala- On Friday, Buganda Road Chief magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa dismissed Mabirizi’s bail application, on grounds that he didn’t fulfill the required constitutional requirements to be released pending hearing of his case.

Mabirizi, who is faced with charges of hate speech and spreading malicious information, the trial Magistrate stated that failed to provide proper identification documents to Court thereby making it had for Court to release him.

“The application is lacking in terms of content relating to a copy of the applicant’s identification document as required by paragraph 12 of the Constitutional Bail Guidelines. On that premise, I hereby dismiss the application for non-compliance with paragraph 12 of the Constitutional Bail Guidelines,” ruled court

Before, the above decision, Kidasa stated that Mabirizi instead of producing in court a Valid National Identity Card issued by NIRA, he produced a NIN number which was not stated under the bail guidelines that it can serve the purpose of the National identity card.

On substantiality of the Sureties, Court ruled that Mabirizi’s four sureties presented Expired National Identity Cards without any proof that they applied for renewal.

“In 2024, NIRA Uganda made official extension of all expired IDs for a period of one year. The extension therefore implied that the IDs of sureties were valid until 2025, and the sureties did not present evidence of renewal of their IDs upon the expiry of the one year extension.”

That with the above consideration, the sureties had expired National Identity Cards

However this decision was not received in good faith by lawyer Mabirizi who accused the trial Magistrate of being biased and thus asked her to recuse herself from the matter.

Anthony Asiimwe, Uganda Law society Vice President, one of Mabirizi’s lawyers prayed to court to halt the proceedings before Court until when the Constitutional petition challenging provisions of Computer Misuse Act filed by Uganda law society is disposed off.

He added that, if the trial proceeds, Mabirizi is most likely to suffer irreparable harm since the there petition has more likelihood of success.

The matter was adjourned to 20th March 2026