Magistrate Emwongu concurred with the prosecution, ruling that the applicant had not satisfied court requirements for bail and ordered that he be remanded until November 18.
The Chief M Mukono MP Aspirant Loses Bail Bid After Failing to Prove Place of Residence. The Registrar of Mukono, Gerald Emwongu, has denied bail to Mubarak Ssekikubo Mubiru, the LC3 Chairperson of Nakisunga Subcounty and a contestant for the Mukono South parliamentary seat, ordering that he be remanded to Kauga Prison until November 18, 2025.
Ssekikubo is jointly charged with Dr Saadi Wataaba (35), a health officer in Lugazi Municipality, and Ronald Ssaku Mugerwa (38), a child and family welfare officer in Lugazi. The trio faces two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and attempted fraud according to state prosecutor Christine Ayebare.
The court heard that between January and June 2025, the accused and others still at large allegedly met in Mukono Municipality and attempted to defraud Dr George William Mukisa of UGX 38 million by falsely claiming they could help him secure a government job in the health sector through the district service commission.
Through his lawyer, Phiona Asaba of Larry Advocates, Ssekikubo presented three sureties to his wife, Rose Babirye Dickson Bwete Muganda, Christine Nalubega, and Richard Katanga, the LC1 Chairperson of Kiyoola village.
However, prosecutor Ayebare objected to the bail application, arguing that Ssekikubo failed to provide proof of a fixed residence, such as a land title, tenancy agreement, or utility bill, making it difficult to trace him if he absconds.
Magistrate Emwongu concurred with the prosecution, ruling that the applicant had not satisfied court requirements for bail and ordered that he be remanded until November 18.
Meanwhile, Dr Wataaba and Mugerwa were granted bail, each on a UGX 5 million cash bond, while their sureties were bonded UGX 10 million non-cash.
A heated exchange erupted in court between the defence and the prosecution over the bail terms. Asaba argued that Dr Wataaba, being a civil servant, should not be detained over “minor allegations,” but Ayebare objected, saying the accused could interfere with investigations or continue defrauding others.
The court decision sparked anger among Ssekikubo’s supporters, who accused top NRM officials in Mukono of orchestrating a political witch-hunt against their candidate. Police were forced to intervene to disperse the agitated crowd and restore calm outside the courthouse.
In response, NRM District Chairperson Al-Hajji Haruna Ssemakula dismissed the allegations, saying the case was purely a legal matter, not political.
It should be remembered that Ssekikubo was arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit shortly after his nomination for Parliament. He allegedly took part in soliciting UGX 38 million from Dr Mukisa under the pretext of securing him a government job.
