The National Unity Platform (NUP) coordinator for the Ankole sub-region, Bright Muhumuza, has rejected attempts by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara to reconcile him with Mbarara City Police Commander Kenneth Gumisiriza Kabwingo, insisting he could not apologize to someone he accuses of overseeing his torture.
The reconciliation effort took place during a public meeting convened by Barugahara at the Mbarara City Council Hall on Tuesday. The minister sought to end the longstanding dispute between the two, but the initiative failed after Muhumuza declined to apologize, despite Kabwingo indicating that he was willing to forgive him.
Addressing the meeting, Muhumuza recounted what he described as his abduction and assault by Special Forces Command (SFC) officers, alleging that the incident occurred in Kabwingo’s presence. Kabwingo denied the allegations, maintaining that Muhumuza had been on the wrong side of the law and noting that the matter is already before the courts.
Barugahara appealed to Muhumuza to forgive and reconcile with the police commander, even quoting biblical scripture to persuade him.
However, Muhumuza remained firm, saying he could not seek forgiveness when he considered himself the victim. He told the gathering that he had endured torture and revealed that previous attempts by National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters and security personnel to reconcile the two had also failed.
Following Muhumuza’s refusal, Barugahara acknowledged that his mediation efforts had failed and said the matter would now continue through the courts. Muhumuza is currently facing two criminal charges in the Mbarara Chief Magistrate’s Court, in which Kabwingo is a prosecution witness.
He is charged with failing to comply with a police officer’s lawful directives under Sections 136(b) and 150(a) of the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 2024, and with committing a rash and negligent act under Section 211(a) of the Penal Code Act.
The prosecution alleges that on November 8, 2025, at Kyamugorani Cell in Mbarara City, Muhumuza drove a white Toyota Prado in a rash and negligent manner, endangering the life of Mbarara City Police Commander Kenneth Gumisiriza Kabwingo near Rad Motel on Kyamugorani Road. Last month, Kabwingo testified before Magistrate Ochieng Yafesi as the prosecution’s second witness in the ongoing case-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
