Ex-CID spokesperson Twiine further remanded

The former spokesperson of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), Charles Mansio Twiine, has been further remanded until June 17, 2025, as investigations into hate speech and incitement charges against him continue.

Twiine is jointly charged with Noah Mitala, also known as Noah Mutwe, a butcher and supporter of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP). The two face eight charges, including incitement to violence, spreading malicious information, hate speech, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Appearing on Thursday before Buganda Road chief magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, the prosecution, led by chief state attorney Richard Birivumbuka, informed the court that investigations were still ongoing. Through their legal teams, both Twiine and Mitala applied for bail, arguing that the offences are bailable under Ugandan law.

Twiine presented four sureties: Alex Atuhaire, a lecturer at Victoria University and long-time friend, Ketty Kabagenyi, his wife and a teacher at Namagunga James Mugisha, commissioner for compliance at the Equal Opportunities Commission Basimwa, his brother and director of Baguma Restaurant in Mbarara.

Mitala presented his father, Henry Kabuye, and two relatives, Esther Harriet Namala and Juliet Namusoke, as sureties. While acknowledging that the bail application had been submitted via the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) on June 2, Birivumbuka opposed an early ruling, arguing that verification of the sureties’ documents and Mitala’s claim of being in the pork business required more time.

He also pointed to the tight court calendar, noting that the next day was a public holiday, followed by a weekend and another public holiday next week – making it difficult for prosecution to respond meaningfully in under a week.

Bail is a mini-trial. Facts presented by the defence must be rebutted with verified evidence, Birivumbuka said.

Magistrate Kayizzi granted the request for more time, remanding the accused until June 17, and directed the prosecution to file a formal response by that date. The prosecution alleges that between January 2024 and May 2025, at various locations within Kampala Capital City Authority, Twiine used social media to incite Mitala to attack and kill the President of Uganda and his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, using pavers.

Twiine is also accused of spreading malicious content via computer, including statements describing speaker of parliament Anita Among as “a rotten human being and the chief sponsor of killings in Bukedea district.”

The statements, prosecutors say, were designed to incite hostility against her. Other remarks attributed to Twiine include claims that deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa is “a money launderer, masquerader, and fraudster,” and that Gen Muhoozi is “a fat pig and a crook.”

He also allegedly referred to Gen James Birungi as “a crook and killer,” and made a sweeping statement that “Bahima are killers,” comments considered inflammatory and ethnically provocative.

Both Twiine and Mitala deny the charges and maintain their innocence. The pair are being tried before the same court where other high-profile individuals, including Ibrahim Musana (popularly known as Pressure 24 Seven) and Herbert Anderson Burora, the former Rubaga deputy RCC, are also facing similar charges related to hate speech and malicious communication, particularly targeting speaker Among.

To date, no evidence has been presented in court in any of these related cases despite multiple arrests and remands.