A magistrate’s court in Ntungamo District on Tuesday remanded 33 men suspected of involvement in election-related violence during the recent Ntungamo Municipality elections.
The men, who appeared before Principal Grade I Magistrate Christine Turibamwe, were ordered to remain in custody until February 9, when they will be allowed to apply for bail pending the conclusion of investigations.
At Tuesday’s hearing, no state attorney was present, preventing the court from taking pleas.
‘You have a right to apply for bail. However, at this moment we may not hear the application because the state is absent from court. You will be remanded until the 9th of February, when you will reappear for bail application,’ Ms Turibamwe said after all accused pleaded not guilty.
According to the charge sheet, the men are accused of being armed in public with the intent to cause confusion.
‘On the 15th day of January 2026 at Ntungamo town in Ntungamo District, you carried dangerous or offensive weapons, to wit: 13 pangas, 11 iron bars, 10 slashers, 3 pick axe wooden handles, and two electric wire pieces,’ the court document reads.
Police said the suspects were allegedly hired by Ntungamo Municipality MP Yona Musinguzi as election guards.
However, many were not locals, raising suspicion and leading to their arrest. Most of the accused are employed as bouncers in Kampala, alongside other professions including boda boda riding and IT services.
Those charged include Simon Peter Nyombi, a bakery attendant in Budo, Wakiso; Frank Sabiti, a bouncer at Urban Bar, Namungona; Augustine Tumwesigye, an IT specialist from Rukungiri District; Kofi Brown Muriisa, a bouncer with UBA Security; and Emmanuel Mugume, a boda boda rider.
Others are Fred Kasule Kirumira, Chris Mugisha, Akram Lubega, Aloysious Kayemba, Kiwanuka Joseph, James Kabasa, Edwin Nsereko, Mutwalibu Kibilige, Ali Ssebagala, Richard Matovu, Robert Sendinda Nsimbe, Edward Bossa, Godfrey Kazibwe, Jovan Ajaru, Ali Semakula, Frank Egesa, Simon Kasozi, Charles Kizza, Davis Ssekabira, Peter Makumbi, Hire Shamilu, Bashir Katongole, Joseph Tabura, Yasin Kabanda, and Richard Tumwesigye.
Mr Musinguzi lost the seat to former Youth MP Gerald Karuhanga, whom he had defeated in 2021 to enter the outgoing Parliament.
Ntungamo Municipality has a history of election-related violence. During NRM primaries, Mr Musinguzi was assaulted at a polling station, sustaining a head injury that required multiple brain surgeries.