By KT Reporter
Fourteen young men, many of them known supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), have been remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of robbery and theft allegedly committed on Saturday, June 28 — the same day President Yoweri Museveni picked nomination forms for party chairman and flag bearer ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The suspects appeared before the Law Development Centre Court in Kampala on Tuesday and denied all the charges brought against them. The session was presided over by Grade One Magistrate Doreen Ainembabazi. According to court documents, the accused are facing three separate criminal files, each detailing incidents of theft or robbery that occurred in different parts of Kampala on the same day.
In the first file, Matovu Muzafalu (27), a garbage collector with Mukono Municipal Council; Waswa Joseph (25), a builder from Kakiri, Wakiso District; and Kabogoza Jerom alias Kakooza (25), an abattoir worker from Kazo, Kawempe Division, were charged with simple robbery. Prosecution alleges that the trio, along with others still at large, attacked Baguma Richard along Yusuf Lule Road in Central Division, Kampala, and robbed him of two mobile phones—an Oppo worth UGX 300,000 and a Sharp valued at UGX 230,000—while using personal violence during the incident.
In the second file, Ssentayi Martin (19), a student from Kakiri; Katakwage Drisa (23), a self-employed youth from Nsambya; Odundo Isma (27), a boda boda rider from Kisasi; and Salongo Kafero (26), a mechanic from Kakiri, were charged with theft. They are accused of stealing a Samsung A05 phone valued at UGX 726,000 from Ssempija Mubaraka near the Ministry of Health.
In the third file, five suspects—Kisinzi Brian (19), a resident of Kisimu-Katooke; Kyambadde Jamilu (23), a boda boda rider from the same area; Odera Anthony (18), of Kigundu Zone, Makerere III Parish; Ssemakula Wagina Magalla (32), a Global Bus conductor from Lungujja; and Ssempijja Hamusa (20), also a boda boda rider—were also charged with simple robbery.
The group is accused of assaulting and robbing Magezi Leonard of a Tecno phone worth UGX 50,000 and UGX 220,000 in cash along Kyadondo Road in Nakasero. All suspects pleaded not guilty and were remanded to Luzira Prison until July 16, 2025. State Attorney Patricia Cingtho informed the court that investigations into the matter are complete.
The accused, ranging from students and mechanics to boda boda riders and casual workers, are said to have links to the NRM party, with several reportedly seen in previous party mobilization and campaign activities. However, their political affiliations were not cited as relevant to the charges during court proceedings.
The charges were filed under various sections of the Penal Code Act, including Sections 266 (Robbery), 267(1)(a), and 237 (Theft). The cases were registered at Wandegeya Police Station. The suspects’ troubles began on Saturday, June 28, when a viral video showed several young men in yellow NRM-branded T-shirts attacking people on Kampala streets as President Museveni was due to pick nomination forms.
Their faces were later identified using surveillance footage, leading to their arrest and detention at Wandegeya Police Station before being presented in court-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
