Court Defies Museveni! Muwanga Kivumbi Walks Free on Bail.

Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi has been granted a cash bail of Shs10 million, while the other accused persons were each granted cash bail of Shs1 million. The court deferred the bail applications of some co-accused until next week. The ruling comes just days after President Museveni publicly argued that politicians facing criminal charges should not be granted bail, saying they could interfere with witnesses. Today's decision is likely to fuel debate over judicial independence, with some viewing it as a sign that the courts are willing to make decisions independently despite political pressure. In my commentary, I examine what this ruling means, why it has attracted so much attention, and whether it signals a judiciary becoming more willing to assert its independence in politically sensitive cases.