National Unity Platform deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro faced a devastating blow yesterday after the court refused his urgent plea to attend the burial of his wife, Edith Katende Mufumbiro, who passed away following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Mufumbiro’s legal team had immediately sought a production warrant to bring him before the court for emergency bail proceedings, hoping he could be temporarily released to attend the funeral. Nakawa Chief Magistrate Doreen Ainembabazi, however, rejected the application, leaving him confined during a time of personal tragedy.
Court documents show that no warrant was issued, and the case remains scheduled for April 10, 2026. The ruling effectively extinguishes any chance of Mufumbiro being present for the final rites, forcing him to grieve from behind bars.
Earlier in the day, Mufumbiro directly petitioned Chief Justice Flavian Zeija, appealing for temporary release on humanitarian grounds. In his plea, he described the emotional toll of learning about his wife’s death while in detention and sought judicial intervention to allow him to attend her burial.
In his letter, Mufumbiro highlighted that attending the funeral was a final wish of his late wife. He asked the Chief Justice to authorize his temporary release under strict conditions so he could fulfill her last request and take part in laying her to rest.
Mufumbiro has been held at Luzira Upper Prison since September 8, 2025. He faces multiple criminal charges, including Accused No. 8 in Criminal Case No. 1363 of 2025 for unlawful drilling and an incitement to commit an offence charge under Criminal Case No. 147 of 2026 at Kawempe Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The allegations relate to military-style drilling activities allegedly carried out by Mufumbiro and other National Unity Platform supporters at the party’s headquarters in Kavule. The accused have consistently denied the charges and made repeated attempts to secure bail.
The court’s decision to deny the production warrant leaves Mufumbiro unable to mourn alongside family and friends, highlighting the tension between legal procedure and human compassion in high-profile cases involving detained individuals facing personal crises.
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