Five suspects in murder of Masaka businessman seek bail
The applicants are facing three counts: murder, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping with intent to murder.
(L-R) In the dock at the General Court Martial at Makindye in Kampala is Nassoni Bwambale Ndyanabo alias Hassan, herbalist Ibrahim Sabiti, Mohammed Ali Mugabe alias Bashir, and bodaboda rider Tonny Kasule during the hearing of their bail application. (Credit: Douglas Mubiru)
________________
Five of the twelve suspects accused of kidnapping and murdering a Masaka-based businessman before robbing him of $600 (sh2.2m) have applied for bail before the General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye in Kampala.
Those seeking bail are businessman Daniel Nabasa, Mohammed Ali Mugabe alias Bashir, Tonny Kasule, a bodaboda rider, Nassoni Bwambale Ndyanabo alias Hassan, and Buloba-based herbalist Ibrahim Sabiti. The court is chaired by Brig. Gen. Richard Tukachungurwa.
The applicants are facing three counts: murder, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping with intent to murder.
Under the law, murder contravenes Sections 171 and 172, aggravated robbery contravenes Sections 266 and 267, while kidnapping with intent to murder contravenes Section 226 (1) of the Penal Code Act Cap 128. All the charges attract a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
Through their lawyers, led by Captain Daniel Kagombe, the applicants on March 30, 2026, presented several grounds for bail, stating that they have fixed places of abode, have spent a long time on remand, and have substantial sureties.
Among the sureties are Enock Tendeka, an advocate and brother to Nabasa, Daniel Mutungi, Sam Kamukama, a businessman, Amina Tushabe, wife to Mugabe, Sulait Madoi, a businessman, and Aisha Kobusingye, among others.
“My lords, the applicants are not a flight risk, will not at any time interfere with state investigations, and have substantial sureties before you. We pray that you find these sureties substantial and free the applicants on favourable bail terms,” Kagombe told court.
State prosecutors Captain Gift Mubehamwe and Second Lieutenants Anthony Phillip Olupot and Regina Nanzala informed the court that they would respond to the bail application at the next adjournment.
Businessman Daniel Nabasa in the dock at the General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye in Kampala battling with murder, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping with intent to murder charges. (Credit: Douglas Mubiru)
“My lord chairman, we seek an adjournment until April 9, 2026, to enable us to make our reply,” Olupot told court, prompting Gen. Tukachungurwa to adjourn the case to April 9, 2026, for the prosecution’s response.
Other co-accused
The applicants are charged alongside Staff Sergeant RA/162543 Jotham Karamuzi, 49, a Uganda People’s Defence Forces soldier attached to 2Tokoora Battalion and deployed at the National Forestry Authority as an enforcement officer in the Greater Masaka region, Paul Tasingika, 39, Julius Muhindo, 42, a bodaboda rider, Ronald Bonane, 25, Elvin Bwambale, 24, Edwin Asiimwe, 25, and Allan Kasadha, 25, a manager at Century Hardware in Wakiso District.
Charges
The prosecution alleges that on or around December 1, 2025, in Kingona, Kyamuzimba village, Kyesiga parish, Kyanamukaka subcounty in Masaka district, Karamuzi and his co-accused, with malice aforethought, unlawfully caused the death of Geofrey Jama Munyaradzi.
It is further alleged that at the same place and time, the group robbed $600 and, at or immediately after the robbery, were in possession of a deadly weapon, to wit: an AK47 riffle S/NO. UG UPDF 1270 loaded with thirty rounds of live ammunition.
The prosecution also states that on the same day, at Hilton Garden Inn, Kamwokya, Central Division, Kampala city, the accused forcibly abducted Jama against his will with intent that he may be murdered.