33 SUSPECTS REMANDED OVER IMVEPI REFUGEE SETTLEMENT FIRE

The suspects in the Imvepi Refugee Settlement fire case being paraded after court issued a remand order on Thursday August 27, 2026. — Photo by Morish Dramadri

By Morish Dramadri

Arua City

The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Arua has remanded 33 suspects in connection with the burning of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) offices at Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Terego District.

The suspects were remanded until September 21, 2026, after being arraigned before court and charged with seven counts.

The 33 suspects arraigned before the Arua Chief Magistrate’s Court include: Ojosile Vito, 56, a Lugbara; Onzima Lawrence, 51, a resident of Yinga Village, Lugbari Parish in Odupi Sub-county, Terego District; Amos Moses, 51, a Kakwa and refugee; Nusaba Batali, 48, a Kakwa and South Sudanese refugee.

Others are Poro Santino, 43, a Kakwa and refugee; Josephat John, 38, a Zande and refugee; James Badil, 38, a Muundu and refugee; Mathew Wani, 37, a Kakwa and refugee; Mawa Richard, 35, a Kakwa and refugee; Samson Khemis, 34, a Kakwa and refugee; Aloro Twaha, 33, a Kakwa, driver and refugee; Moses Sala John, 31, a Zande and refugee.

Additionally, Bidal Robert Jackson, 30, a Kakwa and refugee; Unoma Abuni, 29, a Keliku and refugee; Aguk Moses, 27, a Kakwa and refugee; Aate Jacklyn, 26, a Kakwa and refugee; Baiga Lawrence, 26, a Kakwa and refugee; Peter Duku, 26, a Kakwa refugee and driver; Idrifua Sunday, 25, a Madi and casual labourer; Gift Isaac, 22, a Kakwa and refugee.

Also on the list are, Data Joseph, 22, a Kakwa refugee; Droma Richard, 22, a Lugbara and student; Aboi Botiel, 20, a Kakwa refugee; Meta Jaffar, 20, a Kakwa and refugee; Emmanuel Alafi, 20, a Kakwa, pupil and refugee; James Alemi, 19, a Pojulu and refugee; Alisha Lemi, 19, a Kakwa and refugee; Raymond Mawa, 19, a Kakwa, refugee and student; and Given Francis, 18, a Kakwa refugee and student.

Four other juvenile suspects in the case, whose identities have been withheld for ethical reasons, are aged 17 and 15 years, and are all students.

The 33 suspects appearing before the Arua Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday afternoon — Photo by Morish Dramadri

In the first hearing on Thursday afternoon, the prosecution alleged that on August 23, 2026, the 33 suspects and others still at large, while at Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Terego District, willfully and unlawfully set fire to the OPM office.

The prosecution further alleged that on August 25, 2026, the suspects and others still at large set fire to Imvepi Police Station, committing the offence of arson.

In counts three, four, five and six, the prosecution also alleged that on August 25, 2026, the 33 suspects and others still at large committed malicious damage to property.

The alleged damage included the destruction of two Honda motorcycles belonging to the Office of the Prime Minister, one Yamaha motorcycle belonging to the Uganda Police Force, and one Bajaj motorcycle belonging to Madhvani Security Group.

The prosecution further alleged that window panes at the administration block of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as plastic chairs and canteen items, were destroyed.

The prosecution also alleged that on the same day, the 33 suspects and others still at large aided the escape of three prisoners — Justine Alomoro, Richard Aloro and John Osuba — who were being detained at Imvepi Police Station.

However, when the charges were read to them, all 33 suspects denied the seven counts brought against them. “I didn’t do it. Even my home is far from the place,” one of the suspects told court in denial.

The denial prompted the Arua Resident State Attorney, Brian Kisomose, to ask the presiding magistrate to remand the suspects to allow police to continue investigations into the matter.

“The inquiries are still ongoing since there are still other suspects who are still at large. It is our prayer that the accused persons and the juvenile offenders be remanded as we conclude the inquiries into the matter,” RSA Brian Kisomose pleaded.

His Worship Paul Matema, the Arua Chief Magistrate, subsequently ordered that the adult suspects be remanded to prison, while the juvenile offenders were taken to a remand home.

The suspects are expected to return to court on September 21, 2026, for mention of the case.

“Since inquiries are still ongoing, you will all be remanded to prison, while the juvenile offenders will be taken to a remand home until September 21, 2026, when you will come back to court for mention,” HW Paul Matema ordered.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis