KAMPALA: The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has remanded 11 people to Luzira Prison until September 23, 2026, after they were charged with criminal trespass at State House in Nakasero.
The accused appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa, who remanded them following the reading of the charges against them.
They are Stephen Okello, 31, a teacher; Iddi Kigozi, 34, a manufacturer of school chalk and paint; Joan Muhaise, 32, a businesswoman; Robert Bayiga Tumuramye, 50, a social scientist; Fatiah Nakamya, 35, a businesswoman; Onesmas Tumutegereza, 37, a businessman; Yasin Owomugisha, 33, a businessman and parliamentary aspirant; Esther Twikirize, 32, a student; Cledonia Musiimenta, 47, a former district councillor and student; Caroline Arituha, 32, unemployed; and Seth Muyambi, 40, a former parliamentary contestant for Mbarara City South.
The prosecution charged the group with criminal trespass contrary to Section 282(b) of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128.
According to the charge sheet, the accused, together with other people who are yet to be arrested, allegedly unlawfully remained on the premises of State House, Nakasero, on September 9, 2026, with the intention of intimidating or annoying soldiers from the Special Forces Command who were on duty.
The accused denied the allegations.
State Attorney Ayub Kamba told court that investigations into the case had been completed. The magistrate subsequently remanded the accused to Luzira Prison until September 23, when they are expected to return to court for a bail hearing.
The case stems from the group’s visit to State House to follow up on a petition they had delivered to President Yoweri Museveni a day earlier.
Court records indicate that the petition was received and stamped at State House, with the group reportedly being informed that they would be contacted and given a response.
However, the group returned to the premises the following day after they had not received the expected feedback. Their attempt to follow up on the petition reportedly resulted in their arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Most of the accused are understood to have political links to the ruling National Resistance Movement and unsuccessfully contested in the recent elections.
English 