In Summary: Former Owino Market leader Susan Kushaba has been remanded to Luzira Prison after denying three charges of sending false distress signals arising from TikTok statements about senior Kampala government officials. Her bail hearing was adjourned to November 17, 2026, after the prosecution requested time to verify documents presented by her proposed sureties.
Kampala, Uganda — Former Owino Market leader and Kampala Central parliamentary candidate Susan Kushaba has been remanded to Luzira Government Prison over allegations that she used TikTok to publish false distress messages targeting senior Kampala government officials.
Kushaba appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Kidasa Neumbe on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and denied three counts of sending false distress signals arising from statements allegedly made through a TikTok account known as The Investigator.
The charges relate to allegations she reportedly made between January and October 2026 against Minister for Kampala Minsa Kabanda, State Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Kabuye Kyofatogabye, and Muzamiru Katumba Mirundi.
Prosecutors Allan Macunguzi and Grace Amy told court that Kushaba had used her online appearances to accuse Kabanda of fraud and land grabbing, while Kyofatogabye was allegedly accused of misappropriating money collected from boda boda riders and taxi operators.
In another count, the prosecution alleged that Kushaba linked Katumba Mirundi to the grabbing of land belonging to Kamwokya KCCA Primary School. The allegations remain unproven, and Kushaba denied the charges when they were read to her.
Following her plea, Kushaba, through her lawyer Robert Bautu, applied for bail and presented three proposed sureties to guarantee her attendance in court.
The defence argued that Kushaba was not a flight risk, pointing out that she had voluntarily appeared before police on November 2 after being summoned and had also presented herself before court.
Bautu told court that the sureties had been informed of their obligations and were ready to ensure that the accused attended all subsequent proceedings.
He also objected to the prosecution’s request for additional time to verify the documents presented by Kushaba and her sureties, arguing that the information had already been uploaded onto the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).
The lawyer questioned why the prosecution required more time to verify documents that included contact details of local council chairpersons and letters issued within the court’s jurisdiction.
“It has become practice by prosecutors to claim that they intend to verify documents such as LC1 letters even when it is not necessary to do so. They do this to ensure that the accused are always remanded in order to achieve their target. This practice is wrong,” Bautu argued.
He asked court to consider granting Kushaba interim bail as the prosecution completed its verification exercise.
However, prosecutors Allan Mucunguzi and Grace Amy said they needed time to verify the documents and prepare affidavits in response to the bail application.
Chief Magistrate Neumbe granted the prosecution’s request, saying both sides were entitled to a fair hearing and that the court needed to establish the authenticity and suitability of the proposed sureties.
“There is need for fair hearing which is for both sides and the state, therefore, should be given reasonable opportunity to respond to bail. Court must be satisfied that sureties are substantial and the identity and residence of the sureties are genuine. Verification of documents is a legitimate exercise and serves interests of court to make an informed decision,” the magistrate ruled.
She observed that the documents had only been uploaded onto ECCMIS on Wednesday, November 4, and the prosecution had not been given sufficient time to verify them.
The magistrate also declined the request for interim bail, explaining that the Magistrates Courts Act did not provide for such relief in the circumstances presented before her.
She adjourned the bail application to November 17, 2026, and ordered that Kushaba be remanded to Luzira Government Prison until then.
Kushaba’s latest court appearance comes against the background of a longstanding dispute with Kabanda, which has played out around the leadership and management of St Balikuddembe Market, popularly known as Owino Market.
Kushaba previously served as interim chairperson of the market before falling out with government officials over its management and leadership.
The disagreements later extended into electoral politics when the two women contested the Kampala Central parliamentary seat in the January 2026 general elections.
Kabanda contested on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket and was declared the winner, while Kushaba failed in her bid to enter Parliament.
Despite the electoral outcome, Kushaba remained active in political discussions, using online platforms to criticise Kampala’s political leadership and question the conduct and influence of public officials.
In one of her reported appearances on The Investigator, she questioned Kabanda’s ability to mobilise Kampala residents behind Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, saying: “If you could not genuinely win the election in Kampala Central, how are you going to mobilize these people to support Gen Muhoozi?”
Police summons preceded court appearance
Before her arraignment, Kushaba had been summoned to report to the Criminal Investigations Directorate at Kampala Central Police Station on November 2, 2026.
The summons, reportedly issued on October 31, related to allegations of publishing false information and sending false distress signals. Kushaba had raised concerns on social media about the manner in which the summons had been communicated to her.
Her court appearance on November 5 followed earlier proceedings in which the prosecution had sought to secure her attendance.
Reports indicate that on November 4, the court declined to issue an arrest warrant after the prosecution failed to demonstrate that the earlier summons had been properly served. The court instead extended the summons through her legal representatives, after which she appeared the following day. Monitor+1
What the law says about false distress signals
The charges against Kushaba have been reported under Section 82 of the Uganda Communications Act, 2013. However, the published version of the Act identifies Section 81 as the provision on sending false distress signals, while Section 82 deals with offences relating to radio communications.
Section 81 states that a person who knowingly sends, transmits or causes to be transmitted a false or fraudulent distress signal, message, call or radiogram commits an offence.
The provision prescribes a fine not exceeding 30 currency points for a first conviction. For a subsequent conviction, the penalty may rise to 96 currency points, imprisonment for up to 48 months, or both.
The exact provision cited in Kushaba’s charge sheet should be confirmed before publication, given the discrepancy between the statutory text and the section number reported in court coverage.
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