The Butambala Chief Magistrates’ Court has adjourned the criminal proceedings involving National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Buganda, Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi and his co-accused to June 25, 2026, after the prosecution file failed to be transferred from the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High Court in Kololo, Kampala.
The matter was presided over by His Worship Deogratias Ssejjemba.
Court proceedings revealed that the case could not proceed because the prosecution file remains at the International Crimes Division, despite earlier court directives ordering its transfer to Butambala for hearing.
According to the defence team, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), through Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Uganda), has failed to comply with court instructions, resulting in repeated delays.
During a media briefing after the court session, NUP Legal Counsel Muyizi stated that the continued failure to transfer the file amounts to disregard of lawful court orders.
The defence team argued that the conduct of the prosecution demonstrates “continued disobedience and disrespect of court authority,” and urged the court to consider initiating contempt proceedings against the DPP.
They maintained that repeated non-compliance has stalled justice and frustrated the hearing process.
As a result of the missing file, the magistrate adjourned the case to June 25, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to comply with the transfer order and allow the proceedings to continue.
The adjournment adds to a series of delays that have characterized the case in recent months, with earlier hearings also affected by logistical and procedural issues involving the movement of case files between the High Court and magistrate courts.
Muwanga Kivumbi, alongside several co-accused, faces charges linked to alleged offences arising from politically related incidents following the January 2026 election period.
The case has previously been handled between the International Crimes Division of the High Court and the Butambala Chief Magistrates’ Court, with multiple bail applications, production orders, and procedural adjournments.
The defence insists that continued delays undermine the administration of justice, while court observers note that disputes over file handling between judicial offices have increasingly become a recurring procedural challenge in high-profile political cases.
The matter will return to court on June 25, 2026, for further directions.
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