KAMPALA.
Goons donning ruling National Resistance Movenment (NRM) T-Shirts filmed robbing people on streets of Kampala have revealed that they were paid Shs10,000 to escort President Museveni as he picked nomination forms to seek re-election as party flag bearer last Saturday .
Appearing before Law Development Centre Court on Tuesday ,the suspects wondered why their good will has been exchanged with arrests and jail yet they offered themselves to do an activity for the party
Many claimed that they were got from their homes, handed NRM T-shirts and asked to join the procession to escort President Museveni to Kyadondo Road ,at the NRM headquarters with a promise of Shs10,000 each.
“ Now see the trouble that the Shs10,000 has landed us in for the rest of our lives,” one of the suspected goons was heard shouting underneath the rear of the police pick-up truck.
The suspects, mostly youth in their late teens and early 20s, were arrested from different parts of the city and surrounding areas, including Mukono, Kawempe, and Rubaga, following violent robberies captured on video and that went viral, which marred the Saturday NRM celebrations in the capital.
The group faces charges ranging from robbery, theft, to wandering with intent to commit a felony.
The group that appeared before the LDC court were Martin Ssetayi, 19, a student; Drisa Katakwage, 23, self-employed; Isma Odundo, 27, a boda boda rider; Salongo Kafeero, 26, a mechanic; Muzafalu Matovu, 27, a rubbish collector; Wasswa Jospeh, 25, a builder; Jerom Kabogoza, alias Kakooza, 25; Brian Kisinzi, 19; Jamilu Kyambadde, 23, a boda boda rider; Anthony Odera, 18; Ssempijja Hamusa, a boda boda rider; and Wagina Ssemakula, 32, a bus conductor.
The suspects, who appeared before Grade One Magistrate Dorren Ainembabazi, denied the charges slapped against them . They were split across four separate files.
“You have a right to apply for bail,” Magistrate Ainembabazi told them. “You must present two sureties.”
But since none were ready with substantial sureties to bail them, all were sent on remand until July 16, when they are expected to be ready for the bail application process.
Under the charge of simple robbery, it was the prosecution’s case that Kisinzi, Kyambadde, Odera, Ssemakula, Ssempijja, and others still at large, on June 28, at Nakasero on Kyandodo Road, robbed Leonard Magezi of a Techno phone valued at Shs50,000 and Shs20,000 and immediately after the said robbery, assaulted him.
In a separate file but also under simple robbery, the DPP alleged that Muzafalu, Wasswa, Kabogoza and others, still at large, on the same day, on Yusfu Lule Road, stole two mobile phones of OPPA brand valued at Shs300,000 and another of Sharp type valued at Shs230,000, which were the property of Richard Baguma and also assaulted him.
Under theft, Ssentayi, Drisa, Odundo, Salongo, and others still at large, at the Health ministry, allegedly stole a mobile phone, a Samsung A05 valued at Shs726,000, the property of Mubaraka Ssempijja.
Outside the court, disappointed relatives, some in tears, others visibly angry, accused local mobilisers of luring their children with false promises.
“These children are innocent,” said Maria Nalwanga, a mother of one of the accused. “They were told ‘where the President is, there is money’. They were given only Shs15,000 to Shs20,000 and NRM shirts to follow the crowds. Now the same people who called them have vanished.”
Another parent, who declined to be named, said: “Community leaders used the party name to recruit these boys. Now they are branded criminals. Let NRM come and explain.”
Later in the Tuesday afternoon court session , another group of 16 suspected goons appeared before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.
They included; Emmanuel Turinawe,26, a sugarcane seller and resident of Kabowa Zone Ndebba; Jamir Nsereko, 20, a mechanic from Namuwongo; Ashirtaf Maikuma, 25, bar attendant and a resident of Kasanga; Ronald Tumusiime, 18, a waiter from Kasanga; Joseph Lugwa, alias Muyindi, 18, unemployed; Jenipher Kengozi, 17, a student and resident of Kyebando; Shaban Mulani, 22, a mechanic from Nansana; and Joseph Monday, 23, a peasant from Kayunga in Wakiso.
Others were Isaac Benjamin Mugezi, alias Sparta, 20, a student; Asaba Umaru Lakika, 20, a businessman from Nansana; Derrick Serunkuma, 21, a student; Kenneth Matovu, alias Cobra, 26, a tile fitter from Yesu Amala in Nansana; Robert Ogenyi, alias Corbikz, 19, a casual labourer; and Richard Makafu, 28, a tomato seller from Salaama, Makindye.
Presiding Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya sent the group to Luzira prison except Turinawe, Bwambale, and Kengozi, who were juveniles and were remanded to Naguru Remand Home until July 18.
Under the charge of robbery, it was the prosecution’s case that Nsereko, Maikuma, Tumusiime, Lugwa, Kengozi, Mulani, Monday, Mugezi, Lakia, Serunkuma, Matovu, Ogenyi, Makafu, Bwambale, Kadama, and others still at large, on June 28, in Kampala, robbed Abdul Kigozi of his mobile phone, a Samsung Galaxy, a small Nokia phone, and Shs600,000, all valued at Shs1.45m.
The prosecution further claimed that the group, upon robbing Kigozi, assaulted him, causing grievous harm.
Those charged under the offence of wandering to commit a felony included Sadat Kaziba, 29, a scrap dealer from Namasuba, and Martin Odoi, 20, unemployed from Gayaza.
Remanded by the Chief Magistrate’s Court at LDC, Makerere. They are facing charges of theft and simple robbery.