Bail Hearing for Anti-Oil Activists Adjourned to November 9

What the report says

Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court has adjourned the bail hearing for a group of environmental activists opposed to Uganda’s oil policies until November 9, 2026, according to Nile Post. The activists, linked to the Rooted in Resistance group, were arrested on August 31 while trying to march to Parliament and deliver a petition calling for changes to oil policy and investment priorities.

Their lawyer, Kato Tumusiime, said the accused have now spent 64 days on remand while investigations continue. He told Nile Post that the prosecution has not yet called any complainant or witness and that the trial itself has not started. The latest delay came after the trial magistrate was said to be indisposed.

Tumusiime said the defence had expected the bail application to proceed and argued that another magistrate with similar authority could have heard the matter. He also said the activists believe they qualify for mandatory bail and urged the judiciary to reduce delays that keep suspects in custody before trial.

The case highlights wider concerns around court backlogs and pre-trial detention, alongside public debate over Uganda’s oil development plans and their environmental impact. The hearing’s postponement means the activists will remain on remand for several more weeks unless the court revisits the matter sooner.