Waiswa has reportedly made multiple applications for bail, citing the need to care for his critically ill wife. These requests were denied, a decision that has now drawn renewed criticism in the wake of Edith’s death.
Grief and controversy have gripped Uganda’s political landscape following the death of Edith Katende Mufumbiro, the wife of National Unity Platform (NUP) Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, who remains in detention at Luzira Prison.
The sad news has been announced early this morning by NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who said Edith passed away shortly after 3:00 a.m. following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Her death comes as her husband continues to be held on charges of alleged “unlawful drilling,” which opposition leaders have dismissed as politically motivated. According to Kyagulanyi, Waiswa was not present at the location of the alleged offense on February 12, 2025, but was instead attending to his ailing wife at Mulago Cancer Institute.
Waiswa has reportedly made multiple applications for bail, citing the need to care for his critically ill wife. These requests were denied, a decision that has now drawn renewed criticism in the wake of Edith’s death.
“This is a profound injustice,” Kyagulanyi said in a statement, arguing that the judiciary was aware of the circumstances but failed to act.
The development has sparked outrage among opposition supporters and human rights advocates, who say the case highlights broader concerns about the treatment of political detainees in Uganda.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Waiswa will be granted permission to attend his wife’s burial.
The incident adds a deeply personal dimension to Uganda’s ongoing political tensions, with calls growing louder for judicial accountability and the release of detainees held under disputed charges.
More details to follow as the story develops.