Four Suspects in Panga Attacks Charged in Kabale Court

The Kabale Chief Magistrate’s Court has charged and remanded four suspected members of a gang accused of terrorizing residents in Kabale District. The suspects, Mark Asasira, Smith Arinda, Kennedy Akandwanaho, and Owen Arinda alias Shakido, were remanded to Ndorwa Government Prison until November 18, 2025, when the case is scheduled for mention.

Due to the serious nature of the charges, Chief Magistrate Derrick Byamugisha ruled that the suspects could not enter a plea, explaining that only the High Court has the jurisdiction to try such cases.

The suspects were charged with several offenses, including aggravated robbery, murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, and possession of stolen property. Kabale Resident Senior State Attorney Julie Nanjjunju, who led the prosecution, outlined the allegations in court.

The prosecution detailed a series of crimes that took place on October 1, 2025. In Kirwa Cell, Kabale Municipality, Asasira and Arinda allegedly robbed Sunday Kenneth of two smartphones, a National Identity Card, a passport, a motorcycle, a Toyota Noah, and 150 Kenyan shillings, with an estimated total value of approximately Shs 40 million.

Further charges against the duo involve a robbery at Makanga Cell, where they allegedly stole an iPhone, an Infinix phone, and a 49-inch Samsung television set worth Shs 4.9 million from Loyce Kanyoro, injuring her in the process. At the same scene, they allegedly robbed Stephen Natamba of a Tecno phone worth Shs 380,000.

The prosecution also stated that Asasira and Arinda, with malice aforethought, caused the death of Stephen Natamba, a security guard at Albertine Hotel.

Meanwhile, Owen Arinda alias Shakido faces a separate charge of receiving stolen property, specifically the 49-inch Samsung television set, which was taken from Kanyoro during the robbery.