The hearing of a case involving three agents of Rukiga District LC5 Chairman-elect Simon Mutebi Rwamagyenda, who are accused of grievous harm and malicious damage to property during the 2026 general elections, has been adjourned again due to the absence of a State Attorney.
The case is before the Grade One Magistrate’s Court in Rukiga District sitting at Muhanga Town Council headquarters in Bukinda.
The accused are Daniel Atwiine Rwamagyenda, 58, who is the father of LC5 Chairman-elect Simon Mutebi Rwamagyenda, alongside Philemon Murangira, 23, and Peter Nangwana, 26, all residents of Kigara Parish in Kamwezi Sub-county.
Prosecution alleges that the trio assaulted and seriously injured Brian Tinkashaba, a coordinator for former LC5 candidate Michael Kwarikunda Mbareeba, during polling day violence on January 22, 2026.
The suspects are also accused of maliciously damaging Tinkashaba’s motor vehicle, registration number UBL 889G.
Following the incident, Tinkashaba reported the matter to Rukiga Police Station, leading to the arrest and later release of the accused on police bond.
On April 16, 2026, after expiry of their police bond, the three suspects appeared before court and were charged with causing grievous harm contrary to Section 102 of the Penal Code Act and malicious damage to property contrary to Section 212(1) of the same law.
The accused denied the charges and successfully applied for bail. Appearing before court on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, His Worship Julius Mutabazi said the hearing could not proceed because Rukiga District currently has no State Attorney to prosecute the matter.
Court consequently adjourned the case to June 30, 2026, for further hearing. Speaking after the court session, Brian Tinkashaba said he is considering petitioning court to transfer the case from Rukiga to Kabale, arguing that the absence of a State Attorney may continue delaying justice.
The case stems from tensions surrounding the January 2026 district elections in which Simon Mutebi Rwamagyenda, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer, won the Rukiga District LC5 race with 21,028 votes against Independent candidate Michael Kwarikunda Mbareeba, who polled 17,878 votes.
Following the election, Kwarikunda challenged the credibility of the process, accusing Mutebi of campaigning on the eve of polling day in violation of Electoral Commission guidelines.
He also alleged that his agents were assaulted and chased away from polling stations in Kamwezi and Bukinda sub-counties, as well as Muhanga Town Council.
Kwarikunda further claimed that one of Mutebi’s agents, Benson Ainebyoona Nyamutema, voted multiple times at different polling stations, although he later said he would not pursue legal action challenging the election outcome-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
