Kampala, Uganda: The Prosecution has asked Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court to deny bail to jailed lawyer Male Mabirizi, arguing that he is a flight risk with questionable identity documents, unreliable sureties and a history of disrespecting judicial authority.
Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka made the submissions on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.
Mabirizi faces charges of malicious information and hate speech stemming from alleged TikTok posts made in January 2026 under the account @male.mabirizi. The State alleges he recorded and shared videos referring to Chief Justice Flavian Zeija as a “crook and conman,” remarks prosecutors say ridiculed him in the eyes of society.
He is also accused of making similar comments about Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court Justice Musa Ssekaana. Mabirizi has denied the charges during his three weeks on remand at Luzira Prison.
State Questions Identity and Sureties
Birivumbuka argued that although bail is a constitutional right, Mabirizi failed to satisfy requirements under the Constitutional Bail Guidelines and the Judicature (Bail Guidelines for Courts of Judicature) Practice Directions, 2022.
The State contended that Mabirizi had not demonstrated a fixed place of abode and had failed to properly identify himself before court. Prosecutors said he relied on a Local Council introduction letter without a photograph and presented an expired national ID, with no valid passport.
“Without a national ID, passport or proper identification, the court is left in a quagmire,” Birivumbuka submitted.
The Prosecution also challenged the credibility of his sureties, including lawyer Nasser Kibazo, arguing that it was improper for a former defence lawyer to stand as a surety and that he presented expired identification.
Other sureties were faulted for allegedly lacking proof of fixed residence, employment or financial capacity to supervise the accused if granted bail.
The State further cited Mabirizi’s previous 18-month imprisonment for contempt of court, arguing that his past conduct demonstrates disregard for judicial authority and increases the likelihood of reoffending or absconding.
Birivumbuka warned that Mabirizi, described as an active social media user, could intimidate witnesses or judicial officers if released.
Defence Rejects Claims
Mabirizi’s lawyers — Yasin Ssentumbwe Munagomba, Obadiah Kamukama of the Uganda Law Society Legal Aid Project, and Robert Jurua — dismissed the State’s objections as unfounded.
They argued that the charge sheet clearly identifies their client and that an expired national ID does not nullify citizenship. They further submitted that sureties are not legally required to prove financial wealth but only responsibility and willingness to ensure attendance.
Addressing court personally, Mabirizi said his prior imprisonment arose from civil contempt proceedings, which he maintains are under appeal, and denied being a convict. He also rejected claims that he would interfere with investigations.
“The law requires us to be law-abiding, but not morally abiding,” Mabirizi told court.
Chief Magistrate Kidasa is expected to deliver her ruling on the bail application on March 6, 2026.
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Kampala, Uganda: The Prosecution has asked Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court to deny bail to jailed lawyer Male Mabirizi, arguing that he is a flight risk with questionable identity documents, unreliable sureties and a history of disrespecting judicial authority.
Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka made the submissions on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.
Mabirizi faces charges of malicious information and hate speech stemming from alleged TikTok posts made in January 2026 under the account @male.mabirizi. The State alleges he recorded and shared videos referring to Chief Justice Flavian Zeija as a “crook and conman,” remarks prosecutors say ridiculed him in the eyes of society.
He is also accused of making similar comments about Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court Justice Musa Ssekaana. Mabirizi has denied the charges during his three weeks on remand at Luzira Prison.
State Questions Identity and Sureties
Birivumbuka argued that although bail is a constitutional right, Mabirizi failed to satisfy requirements under the Constitutional Bail Guidelines and the Judicature (Bail Guidelines for Courts of Judicature) Practice Directions, 2022.
The State contended that Mabirizi had not demonstrated a fixed place of abode and had failed to properly identify himself before court. Prosecutors said he relied on a Local Council introduction letter without a photograph and presented an expired national ID, with no valid passport.
“Without a national ID, passport or proper identification, the court is left in a quagmire,” Birivumbuka submitted.
The Prosecution also challenged the credibility of his sureties, including lawyer Nasser Kibazo, arguing that it was improper for a former defence lawyer to stand as a surety and that he presented expired identification.
Other sureties were faulted for allegedly lacking proof of fixed residence, employment or financial capacity to supervise the accused if granted bail.
The State further cited Mabirizi’s previous 18-month imprisonment for contempt of court, arguing that his past conduct demonstrates disregard for judicial authority and increases the likelihood of reoffending or absconding.
Birivumbuka warned that Mabirizi, described as an active social media user, could intimidate witnesses or judicial officers if released.
Defence Rejects Claims
Mabirizi’s lawyers — Yasin Ssentumbwe Munagomba, Obadiah Kamukama of the Uganda Law Society Legal Aid Project, and Robert Jurua — dismissed the State’s objections as unfounded.
They argued that the charge sheet clearly identifies their client and that an expired national ID does not nullify citizenship. They further submitted that sureties are not legally required to prove financial wealth but only responsibility and willingness to ensure attendance.
Addressing court personally, Mabirizi said his prior imprisonment arose from civil contempt proceedings, which he maintains are under appeal, and denied being a convict. He also rejected claims that he would interfere with investigations.
“The law requires us to be law-abiding, but not morally abiding,” Mabirizi told court.
Chief Magistrate Kidasa is expected to deliver her ruling on the bail application on March 6, 2026.
Related
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.