Four men face aggravated robbery charges over Shs37m loot

Four men accused of using machetes to rob two victims of cash, a mobile phone and other valuables have been charged with aggravated robbery before the Mengo Chief Magistrate's Court. The accused are Yasin Ssemanda, alias Zanda, 27; Ramathan Jjingo, alias Rama, 18; Cohen Farouk Kasumba, alias Con, 20; and Eric Musoke, 19. They appeared before Mengo Chief Magistrate Doreen Ajuna, who read the charges to them but did not allow them to enter a plea. Magistrate Ajuna told the accused that the offences they are facing are capital in nature and can only be tried by the High Court. The four were subsequently remanded in custody until October 8, 2026. According to the first charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that on August 11, 2026, at Kasubi in Rubaga Division, Kampala, the four men, together with others still at large, were armed with machetes when they allegedly robbed Najib Adam of Shs25.8 million. The prosecution further alleges that during, immediately before or after the robbery, the suspects used the machetes as deadly weapons against Adam. The charge sheet states that the alleged offence amounts to aggravated robbery under Sections 266 and 267 of the Penal Code Act. In a second charge sheet, three of the accused — Ssemanda, Kasumba and Musoke — are accused of another aggravated robbery allegedly committed on July 24, 2026, at Kawaala Central in Rubaga Division. According to the prosecution, the three, together with others still at large, were allegedly armed with machetes when they robbed Michael Galiwango. The alleged stolen property included an iPhone 16 Pro Max valued at Shs5 million, Shs4.8 million in cash, a bracelet valued at Shs600,000 and a silver chain valued at Shs1.5 million. The total value of the items is listed in the charge sheet as Shs11.9 million. The prosecution further alleges that the suspects threatened Galiwango with the machetes during, immediately before or after the alleged robbery. Because aggravated robbery is a capital offence, the magistrate explained that the Mengo court does not have jurisdiction to conduct the trial. The accused were therefore not required to plead to the charges at this stage. They will remain in custody pending their next court appearance, when the matter is expected to be mentioned.