By Cybernewsug | News Desk
Former Owino Market leader Susan Kushaba has reportedly appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court and been remanded following allegations linked to TikTok posts targeting government ministers.
KAMPALA, Uganda — Former Owino Market leader Susan Kushaba has reportedly been remanded after appearing before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court over TikTok posts allegedly targeting government ministers, according to a report published by Remmy Asiteza on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
The report, whose headline describes the matter as a court case, identifies Kushaba as a former leader of Owino Market, one of Kampala’s major commercial centres.
The available information indicates that the case concerns social media content directed at ministers. However, the specific charges, the ministers allegedly targeted, the prosecution’s evidence and the court’s reasons for remanding Kushaba have not been provided.
The report also does not state whether Kushaba entered a plea or when she is expected to return to court.
Those details are important because an allegation concerning social media posts does not, by itself, establish criminal wrongdoing.
#Kushaba denies charges as court postpones bail hearing
Court reporting by Daily Monitor, New Vision and Pulse Uganda provides further details about the proceedings.
Kushaba, described in the reports as a 46-year-old businesswoman and former Kampala Central parliamentary aspirant, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa on November 5.
She denied the charges brought against her, according to the reports.
The prosecution alleges that the statements were published through a TikTok account associated with The Investigator between January and October 2026.
The allegations concern Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda, State Minister for Kampala Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye and another individual, Muzamir Milundi Katumba Mirundi.
The prosecution says the posts amounted to sending false distress signals under Section 82 of the Uganda Communications Act.
Kushaba’s defence team, led by lawyer Robert Bautu, applied for bail. Prosecutors requested more time to verify documents submitted by the proposed sureties before responding to the application.
The magistrate allowed the prosecution time to verify the documents and declined the defence request for interim bail.
Kushaba was remanded until November 17, when the court is expected to resume consideration of her bail application.
#What the prosecution alleges
According to the charge details reported by Daily Monitor and New Vision, the case involves three principal allegations arising from content published on TikTok.
The first allegation concerns a video in which Kushaba is accused of describing Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda as a fraudster and land grabber.
The second concerns statements allegedly accusing State Minister for Kampala Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye of misappropriating money intended for boda boda riders and taxi operators.
The third involves allegations concerning Muzamir Milundi Katumba Mirundi and land belonging to Kamyokya KCCA Primary School.
The prosecution contends that the statements constituted offences under the Uganda Communications Act.
However, the allegations against the three individuals have not been established in court. Kushaba has denied the charges, and the prosecution will be required to prove its case through the judicial process.
The available reports do not provide the complete charge sheet or the full evidentiary basis for each count.
#The bail application and court proceedings
The November 5 proceedings also focused on Kushaba’s application for release on bail.
Her lawyer, Robert Bautu, presented proposed sureties and asked the court to consider releasing her while the prosecution verified their documents.
The prosecution requested additional time to examine the documents and prepare its response.
Bautu argued that the relevant documents had already been submitted through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System and that the verification process should not unnecessarily delay the bail application.
The magistrate ruled that the prosecution was entitled to reasonable time to verify the documents.
She declined the request for interim bail and adjourned the matter to November 17.
The decision concerns the timing of the bail application and does not determine whether Kushaba committed the alleged offences.
Her continued detention pending the next hearing should therefore be distinguished from a conviction.
#Political background
Kushaba’s case comes against the background of a political rivalry involving Kabanda.
Kushaba previously served as interim chairperson of St Balikuddebe Market, commonly known as Owino Market, before entering politics.
She later contested the Kampala Central parliamentary seat in the January 2026 elections, in which Kabanda was declared the winner on the National Resistance Movement ticket, according to reports by Pulse Uganda and Nilepost. 
The two have also been associated with disagreements over the management and leadership of Owino Market.
The political history provides context to the public attention surrounding the case. However, it does not establish the motive for the prosecution or demonstrate that the charges are politically motivated.
Those questions would require evidence beyond the existence of a political rivalry.
#Social media and the law
The case also highlights the growing importance of social media in public debate and the legal questions that can arise when online statements concern public officials.
Platforms such as TikTok allow individuals to communicate directly with large audiences, comment on government decisions and raise concerns about public administration.
At the same time, online statements can lead to legal disputes where individuals or authorities allege that published material violates the law.
The proceedings against Kushaba concern allegations under the Uganda Communications Act. The court will be required to determine whether the prosecution’s evidence satisfies the legal requirements of the charges.
The case should not be interpreted as a judicial finding that the allegations made in the videos were false or that Kushaba is guilty.
That determination remains a matter for the court.
#Conclusion
Susan Kushaba’s remand marks the latest development in a case involving social media content, allegations against public officials and questions about the application of Uganda’s communications law.
The former Owino Market leader has denied the charges, while the prosecution says the statements attributed to her amounted to sending false distress signals.
The immediate next step is the November 17 hearing, when the court is expected to consider her bail application after the prosecution has had time to verify the documents presented by her proposed sureties.
The case remains ongoing, and the allegations have yet to be tested through a full judicial determination.
Its broader significance lies in the balance between accountability for online communication, the rights of accused persons and the role of social media in public debate.
Until the court reaches a determination, Kushaba remains presumed innocent.
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