Five young men aged 20 to 30 were arrested on 6 August 2026 at a public park in Tororo Municipality during a police sweep, according to the Daily Monitor. Police say the cannabis found was meant for local distribution.
They were accused of possessing narcotic drugs and of frequenting a place used for smoking narcotics under the National Drug Policy and Authority Act. One accused denied the frequenting charge, saying they were at the park selling calendars. A magistrate refused bail because they lacked required ID copies, letters from local officials and sureties, and remanded them to Tororo Main Prison. More than 19 people were first detained, but only five were formally charged after screening. Police say similar crackdowns will continue. The report does not name them.
Why it matters: Bail was refused over paperwork and sureties, not a finding of guilt. One of the accused disputed the charge in court.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda), 2026-08-07. Forgotten Prisoner's account is based on this reporting. An arrest or charge is not proof of guilt.