NRM-Clad Youth Remanded to Luzira Over Robbery Charges in Kampala

Sixteen individuals, identified as supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), have been remanded to Luzira Prison by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court on charges of robbery. This development follows a widely circulated video showing gangs, some in NRM-branded yellow T-shirts, assaulting and robbing people on Kampala streets last Saturday.

The accused, ranging in age from 16 to 28 and residents of Kampala and Wakiso districts, appeared before Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko on Tuesday. They pleaded not guilty to one count of robbery, an offense contrary to Sections 266 and 267 of the Penal Code Act.

State Attorney Allan Mucunguzi informed the court that investigations into the matter are complete. The prosecution alleges that the group, along with others still at large, robbed a man identified as Kigozi Abdul of a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, a Nokia handset, and cash totaling UGX 600,000. The total value of the stolen items is estimated at UGX 1.45 million. Court documents indicate that the suspects allegedly used violence during the robbery, causing grievous harm to the victim.

Among those remanded are Turinawe Emmanuel, Nsereko Jamir, Maikuma Ashirtaf, Tumusiime Ronald, Lugwa Joseph alias Muyindi, Kengozi Jenipher, Mulani Shaban, Monday Joseph, Mugezi Isaac Benjamin alias Sparta (an S5 student at St Francis SS in Nansana), Asaba Umarau Lakika, Serunkuma Derrick, Matovu Kenneth alias Cobra, Ogenyi Robert alias Ali Corbikz, Makafu Richard, Bwambale Edgar, and Kadama Abdul.

Magistrate Nankya ordered their remand to Luzira Prison until July 18, 2025, when the hearing of their case is scheduled to commence.

This comes on the heels of another similar case earlier in the day, where the Law Development Centre Court also remanded 14 other NRM supporters over similar charges stemming from their alleged involvement in the street robberies on Saturday.

The suspects, whose professions range from students and mechanics to boda boda riders and casual workers, are suspected of having links to the NRM party. Several of them have reportedly been seen actively participating in party mobilisation and campaign events. However, their political affiliations were not cited as relevant to the criminal charges during the court proceedings.

The various cases have been registered under separate criminal files at Wandegeya Police Station and are being prosecuted under different sections of the Penal Code Act, including Section 266 (Robbery), 267(1)(a) (Robbery with aggravation, which carries a higher penalty), and Section 237 (Theft).

The trouble for these youths began on Saturday, June 28, when a viral video captured them on the streets, wearing yellow NRM T-shirts, during President Museveni’s procession to express interest in contesting as the party’s flag bearer in the 2026 general elections and also to remain as the party chairman. Their faces were subsequently identified by security agencies, leading to their apprehension and detention at Wandegeya Police Station before being produced in court.