The High Court of Uganda has ruled that Charles Olimu, a city socialite known as Sipapa, and his wife, Shamira Namuyimba, have a case to answer in a Shs 1.6 billion aggravated robbery and money laundering case. Judge Michael Elubu of the Criminal Division directed the two accused persons to enter their defence after finding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against them.
According to the prosecution, the alleged aggravated robbery occurred on the night of August 29, 2022, at the home of South Sudanese businessman Jacob Arok Mul in Bunga-Kawuku, Makindye Division, Kampala. Sipapa, Namuyimba, and others allegedly broke into the house, rendered the occupants unconscious using a substance identified as brallobarbital, and stole $429,000, home electronics, mobile phones, and gold jewellery.
The prosecution also alleges that proceeds of the robbery were concealed or disguised by converting them into assets, including musical equipment purchased from Hong Kong, electronics, and motor vehicles. Sipapa and Namuyimba have been on remand at Luzira Prison since September 2022 and are scheduled to begin their defence between October 12 and 19, 2026.
The court heard that after the robbery was reported, police activated the “Find My Phone” application on some of the stolen devices, leading investigators to a house on Kityo Close in Buwate, Kira Division, where Sipapa and Namuyimba lived. Police searched the house in Namuyimba’s presence and recovered some of the stolen laptops and phones, along with cash and several motor vehicles.
The prosecution presented fingerprint evidence which it said linked Sipapa to an envelope recovered from the robbery scene. Sipapa was not at the house when the search was conducted but was later arrested, while Namuyimba was arrested immediately after the search. The prosecution called 23 witnesses before closing its case, including allegations that two vehicles found at the couple’s home had been resprayed.
In his ruling, Justice Elubu considered the legal test for establishing a prima facie case, citing the East African Court of Appeal decision in Ramanlal T. Bhatt v Republic and a subsequent Court of Appeal decision in the Kato Kajubi case. The judge stressed that a finding of a prima facie case does not amount to a finding of guilt, but rather means there is evidence upon which a properly directed court could convict if the accused persons offered no explanation.
Justice Elubu concluded that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against both accused persons and invoked Section 74(2) of the Trial on Indictments Act, which requires an accused person to enter a defence where the court finds sufficient evidence that the accused committed the offence. KEY_POINT: The High Court has ruled that Sipapa and his wife have a case to answer over alleged aggravated robbery and money laundering. KEY_POINT: The prosecution presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the accused persons. KEY_POINT: Sipapa and Namuyimba are scheduled to begin their defence between October 12 and 19, 2026.
