Exclusively speaking to Ono Bwino, incarcerated maverick lawyer Male Mabirizi has praised the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka and judges of the Constitution Court especially Justice Irène Mulyagonja Kakooza over their bold decision on dismantling the Computer Misuse law.
Last month, Justice Mulyagonja through her lead judgement declared that a number of articles in the said law were illegal on grounds that they contravene with the country’s constitution and also violate people’s rights.
Kiwanuka on the other hand took a decision not to appeal the said decision even though he was placed under pressure by a section of government officials especially fellow ministers.
He told them that the only available alternative is to go back to parliament and legislate another law while making sure that all processes and procedures are followed.
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Mabirizi welcomed the decision of both legal giants explaining that they have saved thousands and thousands of youths from rotting in prison because of a law resulting from a misunderstanding the mover of the bill who is also the outgoing Kampala Central legislator Muhammad Nsereko had with a section of opposition youths on social media platforms.
“That’s why I keep on telling Ugandans not to surrender but keep on pushing. I was told that Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Rita Kidasa was directed to use that law and sentence me to not less than five years. That’s why she keeps on denying me bail but through Kiwanuka and Mulyagonja, God has saved me,” Mabirizi said.
He added that even though he was slapped with other criminal charges of broadcasting without a licence and broadcasting fake news, the punishment is not harsh as that of Computer Misuse Act noting that he has already instructed his lawyers led by Uganda Law Society president Isaac Ssemakadde to challenge the charge sheet insisting on its defectiveness.
“After the announcement of the Constitutional Court decision, fellow inmates and prison officers celebrated that I was going to be released. I told them that I know I’m still in prison because Kidasa thinks that by denying me bail, she will be having her revenge against me because of the complaint I filed against her in the Judicial Service Commission,” Mabirizi said.
Former State House spy Charles Rwomushana said that he was not shocked when Mabirizi was not released from prison after declaring that criminal charges he was facing are illegal and unconstitutional.
Rwomushana noted that as long as those with power want him to be in prison, he will be there until they will feel that they have punished him enough not to joke with them again.
Mabirizi on the other hand revealed that a number of judicial officers including judges of the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are sending him money and encouraging messages to survive in prison.
He boasted that these Judicial Officers know that he is on the course of bringing rule of law and fairness in the country.
Ono Bwino has learnt that senior judicial officers are pleading with the leadership of the judiciary to amend the relationship with the Uganda Law Society instead of using their offices to exhibit their might and power to upon the weak which resulted into exiling Ssemakadde.
Mabirizi further said that he has instructed his lawyers to file another bail application as he awaits the decision of the trial magistrate on his application to recuse herself from his case claiming that they have personal issues thus he does not expect justice from her.
According to the charge sheet, Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija and controversial court of appeal judge Musa Ssekaana are the complainants who allege that Mabirizi used his social media platforms to spread fake news branding them as incompetent judicial officers who are very corrupt to the extent that one of them sold part of their properties to bribe their way to public offices.
Mabirizi declined to take plea on the new charges even though magistrate Kidasa wife to New Vision boss Don Wanyama entered a plea of not guilty as the accused person was insisting that she should recuse herself from his matter citing biasness.
Mabirizi accuses Kidasa of abusing her powers by using her administrative role at Buganda Road Court to allocate herself all his criminal files even though the court has more than seven judicial officers.
“Rita, I’m telling you, one day even if it will be during your old age, your child will be imprisoned or you and you will be persecuted like you’re doing to me. You are laughing thinking that you’re too powerful but pay back time is coming,” a furious Mabiriza stated as the magistrate further remanded him until 15th April, 2026.
Mabirizi insisted that he had issues with Kidasa which resulted in dragging her to the Judicial Service Commission seeking to be removed from the office of the judicial officer on grounds of being incompetent.
He claimed that she is using his ongoing imprisonment to revenge on him to the extent that she even dismissed his bail application on grounds of expired national identity cards well knowing that Ugandans have been renewing their identity card and many haven’t yet received their new IDs.
