Agency
Suspects arrested over the violent incidents that rocked Gulu City during the recent visit of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu have been charged with offences different from those initially announced by police.
On December 18, police announced the arrest of 41 suspects, mostly youths, accused of taking part in acts of criminality, including assaults and looting of civilians’ property in Gulu City Centre.
The violence occurred on December 6, 2025, when Kyagulanyi was in the city to campaign.
At the time, police said the suspects had been arrested through CCTV footage analysis and other intelligence-led operations.
Among those arrested was 28-year-old Hali Fatuma whom police alleged had mobilised suspected criminal gangs using various media platforms.
However, when the case came before the Gulu Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday, only 23 suspects appeared in the dock for plea taking.
Instead of facing charges directly linked to the Dec 6 violence, the accused were charged with common nuisance, contrary to Section 148 (1) of the Penal Code Act.
According to the charge sheet presented by Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) James Waigo of Gulu Central Police Station, the suspects are accused of causing annoyance, obstruction, or inconvenience to the public in the exercise of common rights on December 18, 2025, around Buganda Pub in Gulu City…
Charge sheets seen by Mega Fm do not refer to the chaos that occurred during Kyagulanyi’s campaign visit on December 6, contrary to earlier police statements.
Under the Criminal Procedure Code Act, prosecutors may prefer lesser or different charges if available evidence cannot sufficiently support more serious offences such as assault, rioting, or theft.
During the plea-taking session, 21 suspects, including the alleged ringleader Fatuma Aleng, denied the charges.
Two suspects — Reagan Lumumba and David Ocaya — pleaded guilty. The court did not consider bail applications after the state attorney failed to appear.
Chief Magistrate Alule remanded the suspects to Gulu Main Prison and adjourned the matter to Tuesday for bail applications and the reading of brief facts to the suspects, who pleaded guilty.
The violence that erupted in Gulu City during Kyagulanyi’s campaign visit sparked widespread condemnation across the Acholi sub-region.
Religious leaders, cultural elders, and civil society actors described the incidents as a setback to the region’s stability after years of conflict.
