Fourteen young men, many reportedly affiliated with 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 NRM party chairman and presidential 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. The session was presided over by Grade One Magistrate Doreen Ainembabazi.
According to court documents, the accused face three separate criminal files detailing incidents of robbery and theft that occurred in different parts of Kampala on the same day.
In the first case, Matovu Muzafalu (27), a garbage collector with Mukono Municipal Council; Waswa Joseph (25), a builder from Kakiri in Wakiso District; and Kabogoza Jerom alias Kakooza (25), an abattoir worker from Kazo in Kawempe Division, were charged with simple robbery.
Prosecution alleges that the trio, along with others still at large, assaulted and robbed Baguma Richard along Yusuf Lule Road in Central Division, Kampala.
The items stolen included an Oppo phone valued at UGX 300,000 and a Sharp phone worth UGX 230,000.
In the second case, 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 one Ssempija Mubaraka near the Ministry of Health.
The third case involved 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.
They were charged with simple robbery for allegedly 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 are complete.
The accused—ranging from students and mechanics to boda boda riders and casual workers—are said to have ties to the NRM, with several having been seen participating in party mobilization events.
However, their political affiliations were not referenced during court proceedings and were not listed as relevant to the charges.
The charges were brought under Sections 266 (robbery), 267(1)(a), and 237 (theft) of the Penal Code Act. The cases were registered at Wandegeya Police Station.
The suspects were apprehended after a video surfaced on social media showing men wearing yellow NRM-branded T-shirts allegedly attacking pedestrians in Kampala on June 28.
Police later identified the individuals using CCTV footage, leading to their arrest and subsequent arraignment in court.
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