The Ntungamo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday remanded 33 men over charges related to alleged election violence in Ntungamo Municipality.
Presiding over the court, Principal Grade I Magistrate Christine Turibamwe ordered that the suspects be remanded until February 9, when they will return to court for a bail hearing as police investigations continue. The suspects were not allowed to take plea after appearing in court because the prosecution was not ready, as no State Attorney was present.
‘You have a right to apply for bail. However, at this moment, court cannot hear the application because the State is absent. You will therefore be remanded until February 9, when you will reappear for a bail application,’ Magistrate Turibamwe ruled. According to the charge sheet presented to court, the 33 men are accused of being armed in public with the intention of causing chaos. ‘It is alleged that on January 15, at Ntungamo Town in Ntungamo District, the accused persons were found carrying dangerous or offensive weapons, including 13 pangas, 11 iron bars, 10 slashers, three pickaxe wooden handles, and two pieces of electric wire,’ part of the charge sheet reads.
Police allege that the suspects were hired as election guards by the Ntungamo Municipality Member of Parliament, Mr Yona Musinguzi. However, their presence raised suspicion among residents, as many of them were not known in the community, leading to their arrest. Most of the accused are reportedly bouncers at bars in Kampala. Those charged include Nyombi Simon Peter, a bakery attendant from Budo in Wakiso District; Sabiti Frank, a bouncer at Urban Bar in Namungona; Tumwesigye Augustine, an IT specialist from Rukungiri District; Muriisa Kofi Brown, a bouncer with UBA Security; Mugume Emmanuel, a boda boda rider;
Kanyesigye Moses; and Nyombi Cliff, a bouncer from Kayunga District.
Others are Kasule Kirumira Fred, Mugisha Chris, Lubega Akram, Kayemba Aloysious, Kiwanuka Joseph, Kabasa James, Nsereko Edwin, Kibirige Mutwalibu, Ssebagala Ali, Matovu Richard, Sendinda Robert Nsimbe, Bossa Edward, Kazibwe Godfrey, Ajaru Jovan, Semakula Ali, Egesa Frank, Kasozi Simon, Kizza Charles, Ssekabira Davis, Makumbi Peter, Hire Shamilu, Katongole Bashir, Tabura Joseph, Kabanda Yasin, and Tumwesigye Richard. Mr Musinguzi lost the Ntungamo Municipality parliamentary seat to former Youth MP Gerald Karuhanga, whom he had defeated in the 2021 General Election.
Ntungamo Municipality has previously experienced incidents of election-related violence. During the NRM party primaries, Mr Musinguzi was assaulted at a polling station, sustaining a fractured skull. He later underwent surgeries following the attack.