NRM Public Relations Officer, Mercy Timbitwire Remanded
Mercy Timbitwire, a Public Relations Officer at the NRM Secretariat was remanded to Luzira Prison after a video showing her slapping a traffic police officer went viral. She was arrested on Friday October 18 and spent the weekend at Jinja Road Police Station before appearing yesterday at Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court.
Prosecutors have filed two separate cases against her. In the first case, Timbitwire is jointly charged with Bernadine Abangira, the Administrator of Berger Rights Holdings Limited with the theft of two mobile phones worth 800,000 shillings belonging to police officer Charles Makawa and an EPS machine valued at 14 million shillings which is property of the Uganda Police Force.
They are also accused of assaulting a police officer and being accessories after the fact of a felony. According to the prosecution, the alleged incidents took place at the UMA Showgrounds in Nakawa Division on October 18, 2024. After the alleged offenses, Timbitwire and Abangira reportedly used force against Officer Charles Makawa with Timbitwire specifically accused of assaulting him while he was performing his duties. Abangira is charged as an accessory for allegedly helping Timbitwire evade accountability.
In the second case, Timbitwire faces charges of reckless driving, failing to comply with a police officer’s orders and using a vehicle without third-party insurance as required by law. Prosecutors claim that Timbitwire drove a white Toyota Land Cruiser with the registration number 439T recklessly along New Port Bell Road near Makerere University Business School while using a handheld mobile phone.
Both women have pleaded not guilty to all charges before Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza. State Attorney Mariam Kuluthum informed the court that investigations are complete. They will remain in custody at Luzira Prison until November 4, 2024.
