UPDF soldier, nurse remanded over alleged sale of govt drugs
They were jointly charged with Wilson Mbuse, 34, a peasant from Mpumudde trading centre in Ssembabule district. All three were remanded to Luzira Prison.
Jimmy Kisembo and Mayi Musoke in the dock at Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court in Makindye where they were charged and remanded. (Photo by Margret Zalwango)
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A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier and a nurse have been remanded to Luzira Prison over the alleged sale of government drugs.
Jimmy Kisembo, 37, a soldier and health worker attached to Kabamba Military Academy Barracks in Mubende, and Mayi Musoke, 52, an enrolled nurse residing in Makoole, Ssembabule district, were on January 23, 2026, arraigned before the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court in Makindye.
They were jointly charged with Wilson Mbuse, 34, a peasant from Mpumudde trading centre in Ssembabule district. All three were remanded to Luzira Prison.
The charges
Court heard that Kisembo, Musoke, Mbuse and others, still at large, on October 22, 2025, at Mpumudde village in Makoole parish, Ssembabule district, were found in possession of 174 tins of Dolutegravir [Lamivudine–Tenofovir Disoproxil Formulate 50mg/300mg tablets] and 10 cartons of artemether tablets, contrary to Section 27(2) of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act, Cap 198.
It is further alleged that on the same date, the accused persons were found in possession of 10 cartons of artemether 20mg and lumefantrine 120mg tablets, 50 cartons of Bioline malaria Ag PF test devices, and 11 tins of Dolutegravir disoproxil formulate bearing the markings “government of Uganda not for sale”, which were reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
The offences are contrary to Section 27(2) of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act, Cap 198, and Section 296(2) of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128.
Soldier seeks plea bargain
State prosecutor Martin Arinaitwe informed Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu that Kisembo intends to enter a plea bargain and become a state witness to testify against Mbuse and Musoke.
However, the lawyer representing Mbuse was not ready to proceed, prompting the court to further remand the accused persons until January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Plea bargaining is a system introduced by the Judiciary of Uganda in which an accused person accepts the charges against him or her in exchange for a lesser or more lenient sentence. The prosecution and defence agree on the proposed sentence, which is then presented to court.
The court may, however, reject the agreement if it considers it excessive, inadequate or unfair to either party.