Big Story: Over 90 Suspects Escape From City Hall Court In Kampala

By Swift Reporter

Proceedings at City Hall Court were thrown into disarray on Thursday after at least 93 female suspects were allegedly freed from a temporary holding facility before they could be produced in court to answer various criminal charges, prompting allegations of interference with the administration of justice and triggering investigations.

The women had been arrested earlier in the day during a joint operation by the Uganda Police Force and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) enforcement team targeting suspected offenders across Kampala.

According to a complaint written by Senior Principal Magistrate and Officer-in-Charge of City Hall Court, Nicholas Aisu, the suspects had already been delivered to court but were temporarily held in a KCCA meeting room because the court’s holding cells were overwhelmed by the unusually high number of people arrested during the operation.

Aisu said the women were separated from male suspects, who were processed first in court, but when judicial officers were ready to begin taking pleas from the female suspects, they discovered they had all been released before their cases could be called.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Agnes Alum, the magistrate alleged that Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Faridah Nakabugo obstructed the court process and, together with a group of individuals he described as “hooligans,” forcefully secured the suspects’ release.

“We were stunned when Hon. Nakabugo Faridah, Deputy Lord Mayor, obstructed their appearance before court and, working with some hooligans she had mobilised, forcefully freed all the female suspects who were set to appear before court this afternoon,” Aisu wrote.

The magistrate said the incident prevented the court from taking pleas in more than 50 criminal cases and described it as an unprecedented disruption that shocked judicial officers and other justice sector stakeholders operating at the City Hall Court. He has requested guidance from the Chief Registrar and called for measures to prevent similar incidents in future.

Court records show that most of the suspects were due to face charges of disturbing public peace under the Kampala City Council Maintenance of Law and Order Ordinance, 2006. Others were accused of offences including operating without trading licences, smoking opium, public drunkenness, erecting illegal roadblocks allegedly to facilitate robberies, and attacking pedestrians with the intention of stealing from them.

The incident has since widened into a criminal investigation.

Security sources said operatives have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the mass release, with reports indicating that Deputy Lord Mayor Nakabugo is wanted for questioning. However, by Friday evening, police had not announced any formal charges against her.

Meanwhile, two members of Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo’s staff were arrested during the chaos and later remanded to Luzira Prison.

Court documents identify them as James Nsubuga, the Lord Mayor’s driver, and George William Ssenabulya, also known as William Kintu, his photographer. Prosecutors allege the pair engaged in disorderly conduct, fought enforcement and security personnel maintaining order at City Hall Court, and aided suspects to escape lawful custody.

Balimwezo criticised the arrests, saying his employees had been unfairly targeted.

“It is deeply concerning to witness such actions against citizens and workers carrying out their duties. When will these injustices come to an end in our country?” he said.

However, sources familiar with the investigations said the two men were arrested after a confrontation erupted during the alleged release of the suspects.

Investigators are also examining allegations that Police Constable Jamiru Namazenze, attached to the KCCA parking area, had two mobile phones damaged and stolen during the scuffle, while his police uniform was allegedly torn.

The Judiciary has not yet publicly commented on the magistrate’s complaint, while police investigations into the incident remain ongoing.