Community service ordered for 30 in Gulu city election violence case

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The Gulu Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Grade One Magistrate Ashraf Muyunga, has released 30 out of 31 people who were arrested in connection with alleged election-related violence in Gulu city.

The group was arrested by police on December 18, 2025. Initially, the Aswa West regional police spokesperson, David Ongom Mudong, linked the arrests to violence that reportedly occurred during a campaign rally for the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, held in Gulu city on December 6, 2025.

However, when the suspects first appeared in court on December 22, 2025, the charge sheet indicated that they were accused of common nuisance, contrary to Section 160(1) and (2) of the Penal Code Act.

Under the law, common nuisance refers to any unlawful act or omission that causes injury, danger, annoyance or inconvenience to the public, or obstructs the exercise of common rights, and is punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment.

During their initial court appearance, all 31 accused persons pleaded not guilty. Upon reappearing in court on Wednesday (December 24), 30 of the accused changed their pleas to guilty.

One accused person, Moses Kidega, a 40-year-old farmer from Layibi, maintained his plea of not guilty, insisting that he was randomly arrested by police despite committing no offence.

Court proceedings revealed that on December 18, 2025, the accused persons allegedly caused a common nuisance near Buganda Pub in Gulu city by obstructing the road and disrupting business activities, thereby inconveniencing members of the public.

Although the majority pleaded guilty, their lawyer, Nancy Akello, appealed for leniency, arguing that her clients were first-time offenders, mostly young people who had shown remorse and were willing to reform if given another opportunity.

The prosecution, however, urged the court to impose the maximum penalty to deter similar offences in the future.

Magistrate Muyunga declined the prosecution’s request and instead issued lighter sentences.

They were ordered to perform community service at the Gulu High Court premises for a period of two weeks, working for two hours each day from Monday to Friday.

The court warned that failure to complete the community service would result in a custodial sentence of one month and 25 days.

Moses Kidega, who pleaded not guilty, was remanded in custody and is expected to return to court on January 5, 2026.

The remaining 30 offenders are also scheduled to begin their community service on the same date.