Man, 55, sent to High Court for trial over robbery of Swedish national
Frank Lubinga, who is accused of robbery in the dock at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on March 26, 2025. PHOTO/JULIET KIGONGO
What you need to know:
- Frank Lubinga is accused of robbing John Axel Bergevald, 23, of his mobile phone IPhone 13 pro Max, a Swedish passport, a wallet, identity card, ATM card and cash worth Shs 200,000
Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has sent a 55-year-old man to the High Court to stand trial on charges of aggravated robbery.
Frank Lubinga on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayiizi, who committed him to the High Court for trial after the Director of Public Prosecutions found sufficient evidence to prosecute him for allegedly robbing a 23-year-old Swedish national.
"You are hereby committed to the High Court for trial at the next convenient session," Mr Kayiizi held.
According to the committal papers presented to court by prosecution led by Mr Ivan Kyazze, on May 10, 2024 at around 09:45pm, John Axel Bergevald and his colleague Jacob Kempa were moving along Yusuf Lule road in central division, Kampala city heading to Bergevald’s residence in Kamwokya, when an unidentified individual armed with a metal bar shoved Bergevald to the ground.
“While the victim was helpless on the ground, the assailant proceeded to grab and remove the victim’s bag which contained his mobile phone IPhone 13 pro Max, a Swedish passport, a wallet, identity card, ATM card and cash worth Shs 200,000 and began to flee the crime scene,” reads in part the court document.
Court documents further indicate that Bergevald and his colleague tried to pursue the assailant to recover his bag, but the assailant threatened to assault them with the metal bar in his possession.
It was further stated that during the robbery, a boda-boda rider, acquainted with Lubinga, coincidentally passed by and witnessed the entire incident and with the help of the street lights, he (rider) was able to identify Lubinga as the assailant.
“The boda-boda rider later informed the police officers at the Golf Course Police Post of what he had witnessed on May 10, 2024. The victim reported the robbery to police on May 11, and the accused person was traced and arrested, and also the crime scene was visited and a sketch map drawn,” the indictment reads in part.
The DPP further stated that during the robbery, Mr Bergevald sustained injuries arising from being shoved to the ground, and upon examination on PF3, the injuries were classified as grievous harm.
“The said PF3 will be tendered in and relied upon during trial. The accused person was medically examined on Police Form 24(PF24) where he was found to be an adult of sound mind. The said PF24s shall be relied upon and tendered in court during trial,” the indictment further reads in part.
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