Mother weeps after court remands her for missing son accused of fabricating evidence in Kayanja case

Kampala, Uganda: The Grade One Magistrates Court at Mwanga II on Thursday broke into a moment of silence when a mother broke down in tears after she was sent on remand at Luzira Prison for failing to produce her son, whom she had stood surety for in the Rubaga Miracle Centre trespass case.

Namugga Prossy, who had signed a non-cash bond of Shs20 million as surety for her son, Tumwine Moses, was arrested on the request of Chief State Prosecutor Jonathan Muwaganya after failing to fulfill her obligation to ensure her son reported back to court for trial.

Tumwine is among nine youths arrested in 2023 and arraigned before the Mwanga II court on charges of trespassing at Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral with an alleged intent to annoy city pastor Robert Kayanja. He presented his mother, Namugga, as surety at the time of his bail release.

However, Tumwine has since gone missing, forcing court to issue a warrant of arrest against him. The same orders were extended to his sureties, including Namugga and one Moses Ssemanobe, requiring them to explain why they should not forfeit the bail sum or face imprisonment as civil debtors for six months.

When brought before trial magistrate Adams Byarugaba, Namugga broke down in tears, explaining that she had lost all contact with her son, whose phone lines have been off for over a year.

“I was sick and admitted, I don’t know where he is and his phones are off. It’s now a year,” she sobbed before the court.

Magistrate Byarugaba reminded Namugga of her bond obligation, questioning whether she could raise the Shs20 million she committed when she stood surety. In response, Namugga wept further, pleading that she had no job or means to raise the money.

The magistrate remanded her to Luzira Prison until September 5, when her fate, along with that of the second surety Moses Ssemanobe who is still at large, will be decided.

The day’s proceedings also saw a fifth suspect in the case, Wakamala Alex, give sworn evidence defending himself against the allegation that the group trespassed on Rubaga Miracle Centre premises with intent to annoy Pastor Kayanja. He is set to be cross-examined by the state on September 5.

Meanwhile, court also cautioned against the conduct of a TikTok user identified as Olivia Kateme, alias Nampiima Elizabeth, who has been allegedly recording and serializing voice and video proceedings from the case. Magistrate Byarugaba warned her to desist from such acts, telling her to “desist and make a living from somewhere else” as a formal application against her looms.