Kampala Capital City Hall Magistrate’s court has denied bail to Medi Mubiru, 47, a resident of Buwambo village, Nansana Municipality in Wakiso district. Mubiru, a former sales manager and sales representative at Byter Agriculture Uganda Limited, a Chinese-owned company, is accused of stealing money and goods worth Shs 294.648 million. He was first charged on September 11, 2026, and remanded to Luzira Prison.
Mubiru applied for bail on September 17, 2026, maintaining his innocence. His lawyers presented three sureties: Lizzy Namuli, Mubiru’s wife and a businesswoman; Ivan Senkubuge, Mubiru’s cousin; and Harriet Nakintu, also a resident of Buwambo. However, senior principal magistrate Nicholas Aisu found that the sureties had failed to demonstrate sufficient financial capacity to answer for the alleged loss should Mubiru abscond from trial.
The prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2026, Mubiru stole company money and goods valued at Shs 294,648,000 while working at Byter. The case was reported to police by Jin Bo, the company director and complainant, after discovering irregular transactions involving its money and goods. Investigations traced several transactions allegedly linked to Mubiru, including banking records obtained from Centenary bank and mobile-money records.
Investigators also established that Mubiru received about Shs 82 million from a farm in Kayunga. The prosecution relied on electronic communications allegedly exchanged between Mubiru and Jin Bo, including WhatsApp messages in which Mubiru allegedly apologised to Jin Bo and admitted committing the offence. Company documents, including an invoice dated July 3, 2026, and dispatch records, were also presented as part of the prosecution evidence.
The prosecution opposed Mubiru’s bail application, citing concerns about his alleged absconding and the safety of the complainant and witnesses. During the period police were searching for Mubiru, a potential witness identified as Tom Kiyimba was killed. The prosecution argued that the alleged Shs 294.648 million loss was substantial and that the sureties had failed to demonstrate sufficient financial capacity to answer for the alleged loss.
Defence lawyer Walusansa Mbaaga argued that bail is a constitutional right and that Mubiru is presumed innocent until convicted. He challenged the prosecution’s claim concerning Kiyimba’s alleged killing and disputed the prosecution’s assessment of the sureties’ financial capacity. Mbaaga assured court that Mubiru was willing to report whenever required and comply with any conditions imposed.
Magistrate Aisu declined to exercise his discretion to release Mubiru, with or without sureties, and ordered that he remain in custody. The case was adjourned to October 20, 2026, for hearing, and Mubiru was further remanded to Luzira Prison.
Key points
- The court denied bail to Medi Mubiru due to insufficient financial capacity of his sureties.
- Mubiru is accused of stealing Shs 294.648 million from Byter Agriculture Uganda Limited.
- The case was adjourned to October 20, 2026, for hearing.
