legal 8 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Lawyers Urge Principal Judge to Reassign Sam Mugumya's Habeas Corpus Case
Attorneys for Sam Mugumya, an aide to Dr. Kizza Besigye, have formally requested the Principal Judge to assign a new judge for his habeas corpus case, citing undue delays. The lawyers argue that the current judge has repeatedly prioritized election petitions over the urgency required for a personal liberty matter. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/lawyers-demand-new-judge-to-hear-sam-mugumya-s-habeas-corpus-case-5624968
Lawyers representing Sam Mugumya, a close aide to opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye, have formally petitioned the Principal Judge, Jane Frances Abodo, to reassign his habeas corpus application to a different judge. The legal team from Kiiza and Mugisha Advocates expressed concern that Justice Simon Peter Kinobe, who was initially assigned the case, has not treated the application with the necessary urgency.
According to a letter dated October 7, the lawyers stated that their application, aimed at securing Mugumya’s release from alleged unlawful detention, has faced significant delays. It was initially scheduled for September 15, 2026, but was adjourned to October 7, 2026. On the latter date, the hearing did not proceed as planned and was subsequently postponed to November 17, 2026.
The legal team emphasized that the repeated adjournments, with election petitions taking precedence, have pushed the hearing date over three months beyond the filing of the application. They argued that this contradicts the fundamental principle of habeas corpus, which is designed for swift adjudication of personal liberty.
“A habeas corpus ad subjiciendum is even more urgent; and should ideally be handled ex parte, in a matter of hours, as the nature of the writ and the Habeas Corpus Rules contemplate,” the lawyers stated in their letter.
To ensure a timely resolution, the lawyers have requested that Miscellaneous Cause No. 0208 of 2026 be allocated to another judge who can hear the matter within seven days of the letter. They are seeking any necessary arrangements to prevent further delays in adjudicating Mugumya’s alleged unlawful detention since his reported abduction in Mbarara on August 26, 2025.