Residents of Mbeya Island in Mukono District have called on security agencies to strengthen protection in the area following the release on bail of Jackson Ssebitosi, popularly known as Big Pig. Ssebitosi is accused of involvement in a series of violent crimes on the island. His release has triggered protests and renewed concerns among residents, who have urged security authorities to prevent him and Yasin Kasirye from returning to the island, accusing the two of being associated with violence and intimidation in the community.
Ssebitosi was recently arrested on a court order after allegedly failing to attend court proceedings in a case in which he is jointly charged with Yasin Kasirye and others with attempted murder and robbery. He spent approximately two weeks on remand before being released on bail from Kauga Prison on Thursday. He is expected to return to the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Mukono on October 7, 2026, when the case comes up for hearing. The case has remained a source of tension on the island, with residents now questioning the safety of witnesses and other community members following Ssebitosi’s release.
The case, registered under court file number 1324/2023, involves the alleged assault of Fredrick Namara Karuhanga in March 2023. Residents say Namara was brutally beaten, burnt, and abandoned near the shores of Lake Victoria after sustaining severe injuries. He was reportedly found unconscious before marine officers rescued him and rushed him to hospital, where he remained in a coma for several days before regaining consciousness. The incident has contributed to renewed fears over alleged history of violence on the island.
Residents say their concerns are partly rooted in an earlier case involving the death of Fred Ntambi, a fisherman who was allegedly attacked and tortured while fishing on Lake Victoria on March 22, 2023. Ntambi was reportedly found by Good Samaritans lying in a pool of blood along the lakeshore with life-threatening injuries. Ssebitosi and several other individuals were arrested in connection with the incident. Those arrested included Bernard Mateke, Abdul Ssempiira, Yasin Kasirye, Richard Ngoobi, Annet Amuron, Sanyu Digonda, and Abdul Mugisha.
At the time of his arrest, Ssebitosi was reportedly 28 years old. He reportedly admitted beating Ntambi, claiming that he suspected the deceased of stealing fishing nets, but denied deliberately killing him. The suspects were subsequently granted bail after Florence Namujju, Ntambi’s sister and a key prosecution witness, declined to continue attending court sessions. The latest release of Ssebitosi has consequently revived concerns among residents about the handling of serious criminal cases on the island.
Beyond the criminal proceedings, residents have raised concerns about what they describe as the influence of powerful individuals in the island’s security and land disputes. They have particularly accused Major Mark Wanyama, a UPDF officer involved in a long-running land ownership dispute on the island, of allegedly intervening in cases involving suspects accused of violence. According to residents, Wanyama has repeatedly intervened in matters involving Ssebitosi, Kasirye, and other individuals accused of criminal conduct.
The security concerns on Mbeya Island are closely intertwined with a long-running dispute over a seven-acre piece of land identified as Kyaggwe Block 494, Plot 9. Residents allege that the land dispute has contributed to a climate of fear and uncertainty, particularly among residents involved in the dispute. They have intensified calls for security agencies to investigate claims of intimidation and ensure that criminal proceedings are not interfered with.
Key points
- The release of Jackson Ssebitosi on bail has revived concerns among residents of Mbeya Island about the handling of serious criminal cases.
- Residents accuse Major Mark Wanyama of allegedly intervening in cases involving suspects accused of violence.
- The security concerns on Mbeya Island are closely intertwined with a long-running dispute over a seven-acre piece of land.
