Six Remanded over Panga Attack, Robbery in Kisenyi

Six people including three Rwandan nationals have been remanded to Luzira prison  over their alleged involvement in a violent robbery at a shopping mall in Kisenyi, Kampala.

The suspects on Thursday appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at the Law Development Centre (LDC) in Makerere presided over by Chief Magistrate Timothy Lumunye. They face charges of aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The Rwandan nationals are identified as Asuman Balituha, Elvis Zabayo and James Muhizi, all boda boda riders and refugees according to the records before Court. The Ugandan co-accused are Brighton Kusasira, also known as “Ssekuliima Management,” a 25-year-old businessman from Masajja ‘A’, Kibira in Makindye-Ssabagabo, Wakiso District; Ronald Mwesige, a boda boda rider from Bulenga; and Abdul Swamadu, a car washer from Kawanda in Nansana Municipality.

Court heard that the incident occurred on February 20, 2026 at Shop No. KP 5/4 at Gwanda Shopping Mall in Kisenyi. The suspects are accused of attacking businessman Michael Moses Ssekuliima while armed with pangas and robbing him of 63 million shillings. The victim had reportedly gone to deposit the money through an agent banking service when he was assaulted.

The prosecution led by State Attorney Patricia Cingtho further alleges that earlier in February, the group had planned the robbery from different parts of Kampala, including Makindye and Rubaga divisions.

Cingtho informed court that investigations into this case are still ongoing. 

During the court session, the accused decried torture noting that they had spent 20 days  in police custody without being given food  on top of being moved  between several police stations.

The Court has also heard  Swamad is a minor and not 20 years old as indicate in the charge sheet and therefore should be handled in line with juvenile related laws. 

In response, Magistrate Lumunye said the court will follow up on the complaints adding that today they are going to prison where there’s food. 

Lumunye then directed  prisons to subject Swamadu to a medical examination so as to determine his exact age and establish whether he should be detained in a juvenile facility.

He promised that a Rwandese interpreter will be secured on the next court date so that the charges can be explained to the three Rwandan nationals in their local dialect. 

The accused have now been sent to Luzira prison until March 30, 2026.

Aggravated robbery is a capital offense which attracts death penalty once found guilty.