Bobi Wine's civilian bodyguards further remanded over robbery, assault charges
Achilleo Kivumbi, Gaddafi Mugumya and Grace Wakabi Smart in the dock at Masaka Chief Magistrate Court on March 13, 2025. PHOTO | MALIK FAHAD JJINGO
What you need to know:
- Prosecution alleges that the trio, on May 18, 2024, robbed a Masaka-based female journalist, Ms Margret Kayondo, who works for Radio Simba. The items stolen, including a green sweater and a mobile phone (Camon12), were valued at Shs730,000.
The Chief Magistrate of Masaka has deferred the hearing of a case involving three civilian bodyguards of National Unity Platform (NUP) principal Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine. The trio faces six counts of robbery and malicious damage to property.
Masaka Chief Magistrate Abudallah Kayiza read out the charges of aggravated robbery, simple robbery, assault, and malicious damage to property to Achileo Kivumbi, Gaddafi Mugumya, and Grace Wakabi Smart, before remanding them to Masaka Main Prison.
Prosecution alleges that the trio, on May 18, 2024, robbed a Masaka-based female journalist, Ms Margret Kayondo, who works for Radio Simba. The items stolen, including a green sweater and a mobile phone (Camon12), were valued at Shs730,000.
The accused are said to have used deadly weapons, such as sharp knives and sticks, during the robbery. The court also heard that immediately following the robbery, the trio assaulted Ms Zainab Namusaazi, another Masaka-based female correspondent for Next Media Group. In the ensuing scuffle, Namusaazi’s video camera, worth Shs1.5 million, was reportedly smashed.
The incident allegedly occurred at Manja Village, Kisekka Sub County in Lwengo District, where the journalists had been covering a funeral for UK-based businessman Pascal Ssekasamba, who died of heart-related complications last year. The late Ssekasamba was the younger brother of former Democratic Party (DP) Secretary General Mathias Nsubuga, who died in 2016.
Court records indicate that the victims became caught in a scuffle when Kyagulanyi’s bodyguards attempted to block journalists from covering the funeral proceedings.
Further court records revealed that the trio also allegedly stole Shs200,000 from Rodgers Mulungi and John Mukalaazi, in addition to assaulting Drake Lubega and Haruna Ssekitto, whose mobile phones were reportedly stolen at the same funeral.
State prosecutor Mr Michael Wakosesa informed the court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing and requested an adjournment.
The presiding magistrate agreed with the prosecution’s request and adjourned the case to March 28, 2025.
Mr Samuel Muyiizi, one of the lawyers representing the accused, argued that the state lacked evidence against his clients, which is why he requested the adjournment.
“The incident where my clients purportedly committed the crimes occurred last year, but investigations are still incomplete. So, if the state is not ready, it will never be ready,” he said.
