Former Owino Market leader and Kampala Central parliamentary candidate Susan Kushaba has been remanded to Luzira Prison after denying criminal charges stemming from TikTok statements that accused senior government officials of fraud, land grabbing, and financial misconduct.
Kushaba appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, November 5, 2026. She pleaded not guilty to three counts of sending false distress signals contrary to Section 82 of the Uganda Communications Act. Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa remanded her until November 17, 2026, to allow state prosecutors time to verify her bail sureties’ documents.
According to state prosecutors Allan Mucunguzi and Grace Amy, the charges stem from social media broadcasts made between January and October 2026 on a TikTok account named The Investigator. The prosecution alleges Kushaba targeted three prominent figures:
- Minsa Kabanda (Kampala Minister): Allegedly maligned as a fraudster and land grabber.
- Kabuye Kyofatogabye (State Minister for Kampala): Allegedly accused of fraud and embezzlement of funds collected from boda boda riders and taxi operators.
- Muzamiru Katumba Mirundi: Allegedly accused of grabbing land belonging to Kamwokya KCCA Primary School.
The prosecution maintains these broadcasts violate the Uganda Communications Act. Kushaba strongly denies any criminal wrongdoing, and the truth or falsity of her claims has not yet been judicially established.
Court Rejects Immediate Bail Release
The court proceedings took a decisive turn during the bail application presented by Kushaba’s defense lawyer, Robert Bautu:
The state opposed immediate release, arguing they needed more time to verify the paperwork of the four proposed sureties.
Bautu countered that all necessary documents had already been uploaded to the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECMIS) and requested interim bail.
Chief Magistrate Neumbe denied the interim request, ruling that the prosecution is entitled to a reasonable window to conduct verifications.
Kushaba’s remand is a temporary custodial measure pending her formal bail hearing and does not constitute a conviction.
The criminal prosecution follows years of friction between Kushaba and Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda.
Kushaba previously served as the interim chairperson of St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market, where she frequently clashed with Kabanda over market administration.
Their rivalry escalated during the January 2026 polls for the Kampala Central parliamentary seat. Kabanda won on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, while Kushaba’s bid failed.
Kushaba is closely aligned with the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a mobilization group linked to Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. She has publicly criticized Kabanda’s ability to mobilize support for Muhoozi in Kampala.
While this political backdrop explains the tension, no judicial link has been established suggesting the criminal charges are politically motivated or retaliatory.
The court appearance followed an October 31 police summons ordering Kushaba to report to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) at Kampala Central Police Station on November 2. Kushaba had openly criticized the communication method of the summons on social media before her subsequent arrest and arraignment.
The case highlights ongoing friction regarding online expression in Uganda, testing the legal boundaries between sharp political criticism and criminal liability for defamatory allegations against public officials.
Kushaba remains presumed innocent. Her next legal hurdle rests entirely on the November 17, 2026 bail hearing, where the court will evaluate the verified status of her sureties to determine if she will be released from Luzira Prison ahead of her trial.
