Proceedings at the Kawempe Chief Magistrates Court were disrupted on Thursday after supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) protested a directive barring media recording during their trial.
The court ordered that journalists would not be allowed to use cameras or mobile phones during the proceedings and would instead rely on note-taking.
“There will be no recording. Live audio recording, live video recording, live photography and live streaming from inside the courtroom are prohibited,” the magistrate ruled.
The directive immediately drew protest from the accused persons, including NUP deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, who are facing charges related to alleged “unlawful drilling.”
The group, many of whom have been in detention for months over politically linked charges, began chanting, “We will not be heard in silence,” arguing that restricting media coverage undermines transparency in their case.
The protest forced the court into an abrupt recess before any formal ruling or adjournment could be issued.
Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, who is also part of the defence team, questioned the scope of the directive and asked the court to clarify whether the restriction amounted to a broader ban on media coverage of the trial.
The case is part of a wider wave of arrests involving NUP supporters in recent months, many of whom face charges authorities link to security-related activities. Opposition figures, however, have consistently described the arrests as politically motivated, raising concerns about due process and prolonged pre-trial detention.
The court is expected to resume proceedings at a later date as tensions remain high over access, transparency, and the rights of the accused.
The biggest number of the NUP supporters who appeared in court today have been on remand for more than seven months, while the group of Bobi Wine’s personal guards has spent more than a year on remand.
List
- Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro
- Richard Muwonge
- Eddie Ssebuufu
- Tasi Calvin
- Olivia Lutaaya
- Doreen Kaija
- Sauda Madada
- Achilleo Kivumbi
- Shafik Ssegawa
- Denis Mukiibi
