Mercy Timbitwire, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretariat public relations officer (PRO) has been remanded to Luzira Prison over assaulting a traffic police officer.
Timbitwire was arrested on Friday and held at Jinja Road Police Station over the weekend after a video showing her slapping Charles Makawa went viral. Today, she was produced before Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s court to face multiple charges.
Prosecutors have filed two separate cases against her. In the first case, Timbitwire, along with Bernadine Abangira, an administrator at Berger Rights Holdings Limited, is charged with the robbery of two mobile phones valued at Shs 800,000, belonging to Makawa, and an Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) machine worth Shs 14 million, a property of the Uganda Police Force.
The pair are also charged with assaulting a police officer and being accessories after the fact of a felony. Prosecutors allege that these crimes occurred at the UMA Showgrounds in Nakawa Division on October 18, 2024. Following the alleged offences, Timbitwire and Abangira reportedly used personal violence against officer Makawa.
It is further alleged that Timbitwire assaulted the officer while he was performing his duties. Abangira is accused of aiding Timbitwire in evading punishment by acting as an accessory after the fact.
In the second case, Timbitwire faces charges of reckless driving, failing to comply with a police officer, and operating a motorcycle without the legally required third-party insurance. According to prosecutors, she drove a white Toyota Land Cruiser, recklessly along New Port Bell Road near Makerere University Business School (MUBS) while using a handheld mobile phone.
Both have denied all charges before chief magistrate Erias Kakooza. State attorney Mariam Kuluthum informed the court that investigations into the matter are complete. Timbitwire and Abangira have been remanded to Luzira Prison until November 4, 2024.
