National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy President for Buganda, Muwanga Kivumbi, has broken his silence following nearly six months in detention, delivering an emotional and politically charged speech that has reignited debate over the events surrounding the 2026 general elections in Butambala District.
Kivumbi addressed hundreds of supporters who gathered at his home on Thursday night to welcome him back after the International Crimes Division of the High Court granted him bail in a terrorism case that had kept him behind bars since January.
The opposition leader appeared determined and energetic as he thanked supporters, family members, lawyers and fellow party leaders who stood by him throughout his detention. His return was marked by celebrations, songs and chants from supporters who described his release as a victory for justice.
During the gathering, Kivumbi vowed that his release would not slow down his political activities. Instead, he promised to return to active politics almost immediately and continue mobilizing support for the National Unity Platform across Buganda and the rest of the country.
“I am going to rest for only two days. Beginning Monday, I am returning to the NUP headquarters as Deputy President for Buganda. I am coming with new energy,” he told the cheering crowd.
Kivumbi further declared that he would intensify efforts aimed at challenging the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), saying the opposition remained committed to pursuing political change through what he described as a renewed struggle for freedom and democracy.
The most emotional moment of his speech came when he reflected on the violent events that occurred in Butambala during the January 2026 elections, incidents that eventually led to his arrest and prosecution.
According to Kivumbi, the security operation conducted during that period was not merely intended to restore order but was allegedly aimed directly at him. He claimed that he narrowly escaped becoming a victim of the violence.
“That night, they had come to finish me. They didn’t kill only seven people, they killed ten,” Kivumbi told supporters, drawing loud reactions from the crowd.
His remarks revived long-standing disagreements over the number of people who lost their lives during the election-related clashes in Butambala. While government officials have consistently maintained that seven people were killed, Kivumbi insists that the death toll was higher.
The government has previously stated that those who died were involved in attacks on Kibibi Police Station and the district Electoral Commission tally center during the unrest that followed the elections.
Security agencies have argued that their actions were aimed at restoring law and order after violent confrontations erupted in the district, resulting in destruction of property and attacks on public institutions.
Kivumbi, however, has consistently rejected that narrative. He maintains that some of those who died were members of his campaign team and supporters who had no involvement in attacks against security installations.
The opposition politician’s remarks have once again drawn attention to unresolved questions surrounding the violence and the circumstances that led to the deaths reported during the tense electoral period.
His release had come after Justice Susan Okalany ruled that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient grounds to justify his continued detention while investigations were still ongoing.
The court subsequently granted him cash bail of Shs10 million, paving the way for his release after months on remand at Luzira Prison.
However, celebrations over his freedom were short-lived. On Friday, less than a day after returning home, reports emerged that Kivumbi had been arrested again by security personnel.
According to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, Kivumbi was intercepted at a roadblock in Mpigi District while traveling from Butambala and was taken away by security operatives.
“Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi was abducted from a roadblock in Mpigi on his way from Butambala and driven off to an unknown destination,” Rubongoya stated in a post on social media.
The development immediately sparked concern among opposition supporters, many of whom questioned why the legislator had been detained again so soon after securing his release through the courts.
By Friday evening, neither police nor other security agencies had issued a detailed explanation regarding the circumstances of the latest arrest or disclosed where Kivumbi had been taken, leaving supporters and family members demanding answers as political tensions continued to rise.
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