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 Thursday last week, 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, commonly known as Aleng, whom police alleged had mobilised suspected criminal gangs using various media platforms, including TikTok.
However, when the case came before the Gulu Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday, only 23 suspects appeared in the dock for plea taking before Chief Magistrate Augustine Alule Koma.
Instead of facing charges directly linked to the 6th December violence, the accused were charged with common nuisance, contrary to Section 148 (1) of the Penal Code Act.
Legal experts note that under Ugandan law, it is not uncommon for charges to change between arrest and arraignment in court.
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.
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