Ugandan dancehall artiste Shafiq Jjingo, popularly known as Fik Gaza, is expected to appear in court later today following his arrest last Thursday in connection with a robbery investigation.
Fik Gaza was arrested alongside three associates — Najib Magoola, David Mutuba alias Marvin Gaza, and Charles Zziwa alias Mzungu — during a targeted police operation in Katwe. The four have been in detention at Katwe Police Station as investigations continue.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, the suspects were initially expected to appear in court last Friday, but proceedings were delayed after the State Attorney advised that the case be amended from aggravated robbery to simple robbery.
“They were supposed to appear in court last Friday, but the State Attorney told us to change the case they were arrested for from aggravated robbery to simple robbery,” Onyango said. “We followed the State Attorney’s instructions and are taking him to court with the Katwe file of simple robbery.”
Despite the pending court appearance, police from Wakiso have opened a separate file of aggravated robbery against the suspects and have requested that Katwe police continue detaining them until formal statements can be obtained.
“While we plan to take him to court today, we are still waiting for Wakiso police to come and talk to him and get his statement,” Onyango added.
Police say the arrest followed a rise in robbery cases in and around Katwe division. A raid on Fik Gaza’s residence reportedly led to the arrest of the four men and the recovery of several exhibits, including pangas, military-like clothing, and suspected narcotics. Onyango noted that the home was believed to be a hideout for some of the city’s most wanted criminals.
Fik Gaza rose to prominence in 2018 after leaving Fangone Forest, a music group led by Alien Skin, to form his own outfit, Gaza Empire. He is known for songs such as Banana, Bukuta Bukuta, Muchezo, and Sanyu.
More details are expected to emerge following his court appearance later today.
