16 charged over robbing pedestrians after NRM event

KAMPALA - Sixteen suspects arrested in connection with a spate of co-ordinated robberies targeting the public during President Yoweri Museveni’s nomination event have been charged.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the suspects who were detained at Kampala Central Police Station were charged with theft and aggravated robbery.

The 16 suspects, who were arrested on Saturday, June 28, 2025, were today, July 1, 2025, arraigned before Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court 2 this afternoon on allegations of theft and aggravated robbery.

NRM distances itself from goons

On Monday, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) distanced itself from the violent actions of goons who, while donned in the party's signature yellow t-shirts, were captured on camera robbing and assaulting civilians in Kampala two days earlier.

In a statement released on Monday, June 30, 2025, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong described the incident as "regrettable" and "very unfortunate" but suggested it may have been a calculated move by political rivals to tarnish the party's image.

The violent scenes, which spread rapidly on social media, occurred moments after President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM National Chairman, had collected nomination forms from the party's secretariat on Kyadondo Road, signalling his intent to run as the party's flag-bearer in the next presidential election.

"We cannot rule out that those could be elements of the Opposition that dressed in our T-shirts and caused that incident," Todwong told journalists.

"Because in the history of NRM, our youth have never behaved like that. That behaviour is not for NRM. It is similar to the behaviours of other parties."

Todwong announced that the party, in conjunction with state security agencies, has launched an investigation into the matter. He insisted that the individuals involved were not representative of the NRM's youth wing and that their conduct was alien to the party's code of conduct.

"The footage is there; the faces are known. The Police are investigating everyone of them who was involved in this," he affirmed, promising accountability.

While strongly suggesting a set-up by political opponents, Todwong offered an apology to the victims who were terrorised and robbed in broad daylight.

"We don't condone such behaviour and we do apologise for those that were affected," he stated. "The fact that they used our t-shirt to cause that is bad enough."