A visit by The Investigator crew to Luzira Maximum Security Prison on Wednesday offered a glimpse into the state of mind of Suzan Kushaba, the outspoken former chairperson of St Balikuddembe Market, who says her latest legal troubles have not dampened her determination to regain her freedom. Despite being behind bars, Kushaba, popularly known for her fiery commentary on public affairs, appeared upbeat and insisted that she was neither broken nor overwhelmed by her circumstances.
“I am not broken at all and I am here happy, reading books and meditating,” she told Stanley Ndawula, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Investigator, who visited her at Luzira. Her message was one of defiance and optimism. She believes she will eventually walk out of prison and resume her public engagements.
Kushaba, who is also the head of the informal sector in the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), was remanded to Luzira on November 4th 2026, following her appearance before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court, where she denied charges arising from TikTok videos allegedly targeting senior government officials.
Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa remanded her until November 17th 2026, when the court is expected to consider the prosecution’s response to her bail application.
Her detention has attracted public attention, not least because she is a familiar voice in Kampala’s political and business circles. She is a former chairperson of St Balikuddembe Market, popularly known as Owino Market, one of the country’s busiest commercial centres, and has remained active in public debate since leaving the market leadership position. For Kushaba, however, the present case is only the latest episode in a series of confrontations that have brought her into the spotlight.
A Familiar Voice on The Investigator
Kushaba is a regular panelist on The Investigator TV, where she presents the weekly programme Suzan Kushaba Roars, which premieres every Friday. Through the programme and her social media platforms, she has built a reputation as an outspoken commentator on corruption, political leadership, public accountability and the management of public resources.
Her style is direct and often confrontational, particularly when discussing powerful individuals and institutions. That public profile has now been interrupted by her detention, raising questions about how the criminal proceedings will affect her political mobilisation and media engagements. Yet, during Wednesday’s prison visit, Kushaba appeared determined not to allow incarceration to define her.
Last night, she told the visiting team that she was spending her time reading and meditating, suggesting that she was using the period in custody to reflect rather than surrender to despair. Her confidence also appeared anchored in the expectation that the court would grant her bail when her application comes up for consideration.
The Ham Kiggundu Connection
Beyond the charges arising from her Investigator Show and TikTok publications, Kushaba has also been involved in a highly publicised dispute with businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, over the controversial redevelopment and ownership arrangements surrounding Nakivubo Channel.
The businessman has accused Kushaba of defamation over remarks she made during public commentary, including appearances on her talk show, in which she questioned his dealings with the channel and alleged irregularities in the acquisition of prime property associated with the project.
Kushaba has been critical of the businessman, portraying the Nakivubo development as an issue that deserves greater public scrutiny, particularly because of the channel’s historical importance to Kampala and its role in the city’s drainage system.
The dispute has placed her in the middle of a wider public debate about private investment, public land, urban redevelopment and accountability in the management of public assets. Nakivubo Channel is one of Kampala’s important drainage arteries. It carries storm water through parts of the capital towards Lake Victoria and has for years been associated with flooding, pollution, encroachment and poor urban planning.
The channel and surrounding areas became the subject of renewed public attention following Ham Kiggundu’s redevelopment initiatives, which included the construction of commercial facilities and interventions around the drainage corridor.
The projects have attracted both support and criticism. Supporters point to the investment and modernisation of an area long associated with congestion and environmental degradation. Critics, however, have questioned the legal arrangements, public oversight and the extent to which private commercial interests should control or benefit from developments involving public infrastructure.
Kushaba emerged among the voices demanding answers, using her media appearances and online platforms to question the businessman and the authorities responsible for overseeing the project. The businessman, for his part, has pursued legal action over statements he considers defamatory.
It is important to distinguish the allegations exchanged in this dispute from facts established by a court. Questions about the ownership, acquisition and redevelopment arrangements surrounding Nakivubo Channel remain matters that require documentary evidence and appropriate legal determination.
From Owino Market to PLU Mobilisation
Kushaba’s public profile was built long before her television appearances. As a former chairperson of St Balikuddembe Market, she operated in an environment where traders regularly confronted difficult questions involving market administration, leadership, taxation, infrastructure and the relationship between government and informal-sector businesses.
Owino Market is not simply a trading centre. It is a major economic lifeline for thousands of traders and their families, making its leadership politically and economically influential. Her experience in market leadership helped establish her as a vocal representative of informal-sector interests.
She subsequently became associated with Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Patriotic League of Uganda, where she serves as head of the informal sector. The PLU has sought to mobilise support among different social and economic groups, including traders, small-scale entrepreneurs and other informal-sector players. Kushaba’s position gives her a platform to connect the concerns of ordinary traders with the political conversations surrounding the organisation.
Her arrest therefore carries significance beyond the immediate criminal proceedings. It has placed an outspoken political mobiliser and media personality in custody at a time when her public commentary has increasingly touched on sensitive questions of power, business interests and accountability.
The November 17 Test
The immediate focus is now on November 17th, when Kushaba is expected back before Chief Magistrate Kidasa for consideration of her bail application. Her supporters will be watching closely to see whether she secures temporary freedom as the criminal proceedings continue.
For now, she remains in Luzira, where she says she is keeping herself occupied with books and meditation. Her message to those following her predicament is that imprisonment has not silenced her spirit. “I am not broken at all,” she insists.
Whether the court grants her bail will be determined through the judicial process. But Wednesday’s visit suggested that, at least psychologically, Kushaba is determined to face the proceedings without losing her optimism. For a woman whose television programme is called Kushaba Roars, her message from behind prison walls was unmistakable: she believes her voice will be heard again.
Author Profile
- Mr. Jacko David Waluluka is another unique entertainment and general investigative news writer, a field he has diligently covered for over fifteen years. He’s also the Chief Administrator at The Investigator. He can easily be reached via [email protected]
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