WE SHALL CALL YOU...THEY CAME BACK ANYWAY! 11 Stubborn Politicians Who Stormed State House To Chase Petition Feedback, Get Luzira Ticket

Trouble has deepened for 11 people accused of criminal trespass at State House, Nakasero, after Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court remanded them to Luzira Prison following their arrest over a dramatic return to the presidential premises.

The group was has been sent to Luzira until September 23, 2026, when they will return to court for a bail hearing.

The accused—Stephen Okello, 31, a teacher; Iddi Kigozi, 34, a manufacturer of school chalk and paint; Joan Muhaise, 32, a businesswoman; Robert Bayiga Tumuramye, 50, a social scientist; Fatiah Nakamya, 35, a businesswoman; Onesmas Tumutegereza, 37, a businessman; Yasin Owomugisha, 33, a businessman and parliamentary aspirant; Esther Twikirize, 32, a student; Cledonia Musiimenta, 47, a former district councillor and student; Caroline Arituha, 32, unemployed; and Seth Muyambi, 40, a former parliamentary contestant for Mbarara City South—appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa.

The State charged them with criminal trespass contrary to Section 282(b) of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128.

Prosecution alleges that on September 9, 2026, at State House, Nakasero, the accused, together with others still at large, having lawfully entered the premises, remained there with intent to intimidate or annoy soldiers of the Special Forces Command who were on duty.

The 11 denied the allegations.

State Attorney Ayub Kamba told court that investigations into the matter had been completed, paving the way for the accused to be remanded pending their bail hearing.

But behind the dramatic State House arrest is a rather unusual sequence of events.

Court records indicate that the accused had gone to State House to follow up on a petition they had delivered to the President a day before their arrest.

The petition was reportedly received and stamped by State House officials, who allegedly informed the group that they would be contacted and given feedback at a later date.

The trouble allegedly started when the group returned to State House the following day after failing to receive the anticipated call.

Instead of waiting further, the accused reportedly went back to the presidential premises demanding a follow-up on their petition.

It was during this second visit that they were arrested and subsequently charged with criminal trespass.

The prosecution case is that although they had initially entered the premises lawfully, they remained there with the alleged intention of intimidating or annoying the soldiers guarding the facility.

The accused, however, have denied the charges.

The case has attracted attention because a significant number of those remanded are understood to be politically active and NRM-leaning figures, several of whom participated in the recent elections but failed to secure victory.

Among them is Owomugisha, a parliamentary aspirant, while Muyambi previously contested for Mbarara City South and Musiimenta is a former district councillor.