Five employees of businessman Yusuf Semakula have been charged with aggravated robbery for allegedly stealing from one Simon Eliba Orech, items valued at sh1.2m.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons on Friday, January 5, without a court order, forcefully accessed a partially demolished house in Ntinda, Kampala, armed with machetes and violently attacked and robbed one of the family members of his phone and money.

The house allegedly belongs to the late Eng. Johnson Eliba Orech.

The demolished house in Ntinda. (Photo by Michael Odeng)

The accused persons include Julius Lukwago, Hussein Kato, Peter Okello, Hussein Ochen and Godfrey Bahati.

Today, Monday, the City Hall Court Grade One Magistrate, Rehema Nassozi Ssebowa read the charges to the accused persons but refused them to take a plea, saying the matter is triable by the High Court.

“This is a capital offence and my court has no jurisdiction to handle the matter,” she said.

The State Prosecutor Mercy Yamangusho Khaidarah informed the court that investigations into the matter is still ongoing.

“I seek an adjournment to allow the Police to complete investigations into the matter,” she requested. This prompted the magistrate to remand the accused persons until February 1, 2024.