High Court Upholds Dismissal of Mabirizi's Case Against Gen. Muhoozi and PLU

Kampala’s High Court has rejected lawyer Male Mabirizi’s attempt to appeal the dismissal of his private criminal complaint against General Muhoozi Kainerugaba and 17 others. The complaint centered on the establishment and operations of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a group seen as backing Muhoozi’s presidential ambitions.

Justice Paul Gadenya Wolimbwa upheld the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s initial decision to refuse criminal summonses. Mabirizi had accused the PLU leaders of managing an unlawful society, conspiracy, and making inciting speeches.

In his ruling, Justice Wolimbwa explained that while complainants don’t need to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt at the initial stage, their complaint must contain enough factual specifics to suggest an offense may have occurred and link the accused to it. Mabirizi identified the PLU, its launch, and its objectives but failed to provide concrete evidence demonstrating how these elements constituted the specific crimes alleged.

The court found no evidence that the PLU was declared or intended to interfere with justice, nor that supporting a military officer’s political ambitions automatically made the organization unlawful. Mabirizi also did not present sufficient evidence of an agreement for conspiracy among the respondents.

Furthermore, the judge noted that the presumption of membership from attending meetings is invalid if the organization itself is not proven to be unlawful. Regarding alleged unlawful speeches, Mabirizi’s affidavit did not identify speakers or the content of their remarks sufficiently.

The court also clarified that magistrates have discretion, not an obligation, to order further police investigations when a complainant fails to provide adequate evidence. The dismissal of the case does not mean the PLU’s activities are deemed lawful, only that Mabirizi’s allegations and evidence were insufficient.

Justice Wolimbwa declined to label Mabirizi’s complaint as malicious, stating that insufficient evidence alone does not prove improper motives. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the lower court’s decision and denying the request for criminal summonses or further investigations. The matter was reported by The Observer (Uganda) on October 21, 2026.