Five traders remanded over protest at minister's home
The prosecution alleges that on June 30, 2026, at Kitebi in Rubaga Division, Kampala, the accused disturbed public peace by inciting violence against the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs at her residence, with the intention of injuring her.
Suspected FUTA traders appear in the KCCA court dock before being remanded to Luzira on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)
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The Magistrate's Court sitting at City Hall in Kampala has remanded five traders affiliated with the Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA) to Luzira Prison after they allegedly invaded the home of the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, demanding compensation for goods destroyed by floods.
The five were charged with disturbing public peace contrary to Section 7 of the Local Government (Kampala City Council) Maintenance of Law and Order Ordinance, 2006.
The prosecution alleges that on June 30, 2026, at Kitebi in Rubaga Division, Kampala, the accused disturbed public peace by inciting violence against the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs at her residence, with the intention of injuring her.
“You are allowed to apply for bail if any of your lawyers are around in court today, but if not, I have remanded you until July 22 when this case shall come again for mention,” ruled Karakire before remanding them.
“The accused were leading over 50 traders to stage a demonstration demanding compensation for their goods that were destroyed by floods at my home. It was very wrong to attack my home when they should have brought their grievances to our office,” Kabanda said.
She added that matters relating to compensation are handled by the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, not the Ministry for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, and alleged that the traders had been misled by their leaders.
Those remanded are Gerald Musanje, 20, a resident of Kitebi; William Arinaitwe, 23, a resident of Kabojja; Ronald Kyagulanyi, 21, also a resident of Kabojja; Richard Bulegeya, 40, a resident of Kinaawa in Wakiso district; and Hassan Mubiru, 31, from Kabojja in Wakiso district.
FUTA chairman John Kabanda said traders believed the sh20 billion reportedly allocated by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for compensation was being held by minister Kabanda.
“KCCA made their own lists of those who were to be compensated, but they were not matching with those we drafted. Even the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) was tasked to compile a new list which they did not show us, and traders had to go to Kabanda’s home to verify,” Kabanda said.
He said the financial relief package had been welcomed as a timely intervention to restore confidence among traders and enable them to recover from losses caused by the floods.
“We have never received even a single coin,” Kabanda insisted.