Archival Sense
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- Dec 16, 2025
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The Chief Magistrate's Court at City Hall in Kampala has remanded five traders affiliated with the Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA) to Luzira Prison over their alleged involvement in a protest at the home of the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda.
The five are accused of leading a group of more than 50 traders to the minister's residence in Kitebi, Rubaga Division, on June 30, 2026, where they allegedly demanded compensation for goods destroyed during recent floods.
The accused appeared before Chief Magistrate Edgar Karakire and were charged with disturbing public peace, contrary to Section 7 of the Local Government (Kampala City Council) Maintenance of Law and Order Ordinance, 2006.
According to the prosecution, the traders disturbed public peace by allegedly inciting violence against Minister Kabanda at her residence with the intention of causing her harm.
The accused denied the charges.
After hearing the matter, Chief Magistrate Karakire remanded the five to Luzira Prison until July 22, 2026, when the case will return to court for mention.
The accussed in the dock (photo courtesy of NewVision Ug)
"You are allowed to apply for bail if any of your lawyers are around in court today, but if not, I have remanded you until July 22 when this case shall come again for mention," Karakire ruled.
Speaking about the incident, Minister Kabanda condemned the decision to stage the protest at her private residence, saying the traders should have presented their grievances through official channels.
"The accused were leading over 50 traders in staging a demonstration at my home, demanding compensation for their goods that were destroyed in the floods. It was very wrong of them to attack my home. They should have brought their grievances to the office," she said.
The case arises amid growing concerns from traders whose merchandise was destroyed by flooding in parts of Kampala. While some have called on the government for compensation, authorities maintain that demonstrations should be conducted lawfully and through the appropriate channels.
FUTA chairman John Kabanda said traders believed the sh20 billion reportedly allocated by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for compensation was being held by minister Kabanda.
"KCCA made their own lists of those who were to be compensated, but they were not matching with those we drafted. Even the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) was tasked to compile a new list which they did not show us, and traders had to go to Kabanda's home to verify," John Kabanda said.
He said the financial relief package had been welcomed as a timely intervention to restore confidence among traders and enable them to recover from losses caused by the floods."We have never received even a single coin," Kabanda insisted.
The five are accused of leading a group of more than 50 traders to the minister's residence in Kitebi, Rubaga Division, on June 30, 2026, where they allegedly demanded compensation for goods destroyed during recent floods.
The accused appeared before Chief Magistrate Edgar Karakire and were charged with disturbing public peace, contrary to Section 7 of the Local Government (Kampala City Council) Maintenance of Law and Order Ordinance, 2006.
According to the prosecution, the traders disturbed public peace by allegedly inciting violence against Minister Kabanda at her residence with the intention of causing her harm.
The accused denied the charges.
After hearing the matter, Chief Magistrate Karakire remanded the five to Luzira Prison until July 22, 2026, when the case will return to court for mention.
The accussed in the dock (photo courtesy of NewVision Ug)
"You are allowed to apply for bail if any of your lawyers are around in court today, but if not, I have remanded you until July 22 when this case shall come again for mention," Karakire ruled.
Speaking about the incident, Minister Kabanda condemned the decision to stage the protest at her private residence, saying the traders should have presented their grievances through official channels.
"The accused were leading over 50 traders in staging a demonstration at my home, demanding compensation for their goods that were destroyed in the floods. It was very wrong of them to attack my home. They should have brought their grievances to the office," she said.
The case arises amid growing concerns from traders whose merchandise was destroyed by flooding in parts of Kampala. While some have called on the government for compensation, authorities maintain that demonstrations should be conducted lawfully and through the appropriate channels.
FUTA chairman John Kabanda said traders believed the sh20 billion reportedly allocated by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for compensation was being held by minister Kabanda.
"KCCA made their own lists of those who were to be compensated, but they were not matching with those we drafted. Even the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) was tasked to compile a new list which they did not show us, and traders had to go to Kabanda's home to verify," John Kabanda said.
He said the financial relief package had been welcomed as a timely intervention to restore confidence among traders and enable them to recover from losses caused by the floods."We have never received even a single coin," Kabanda insisted.
