The Chief Magistrate Court in Mukono on Monday evening remanded three Tian Tang Group top managers on accusations of attempted murder.
The managers are Liang Kai, Bin Ding, Chen Cheng and Ai Wu Zheng alias Martin. These were remanded to Kauga Prison by the Chief Magistrate Roselyn Nsenge.
These are accused of violently attacking two fellow Chinese investors in their apartment at Namanve Industrial Park in the early hours of September 18, 2024 and causing them serious injuries in what seems to be fallout from rising business tensions.
The victims are Liu Qingshan (63) and Lu Hanbin (32), who owns the Ugandan NEC-WATU Automobile Group
The attack, carried out by seven Chinese nationals allegedly backed by armed individuals possibly linked to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), occurred around 5:00 AM.
The assailants broke into the apartment, smashing doors and windows, and brutally assaulted the victims before taking off with electronic devices such as mobile phones, a desktop computer, and a laptop.
Police arrived shortly after the attackers had fled and opened up a file at Namanve Police Station.
Qingshan and Hanbin were quickly taken to Nakasero Hospital for treatment of head, back, and leg injuries.
The suspects Liang Kai is accused of two counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit felony, Bin Ding of attempted murder, and Zheng is accused of two attempted murder and malicious damage.
The suspects through their lawyers of Arcadia Advocates asked court to grant them bail, however, prosecution led by Emily Ninsima objected saying they need to first assess the health conditions of the victims and validity of sureties.
The Chief Magistrate agreed with the prosecution, remanding the suspects to Kauga until September 30.
Court premises were so hard for journalists to cover the matter as CT officers, military and plain clothe men were moving up and down obstructing them from making recordings.
Despite the remand, the suspect asked not to be humiliated by making them climb on the police patrol and they were picked up by vehicle for Kauga commandant.
Prison also allowed the suspects’ aides to bring for them mattresses and blankets to use until Monday.
Through their lawyers, they have applied to be shifted to Luzira Prison claiming discomfort at Kauga Prison.
NEC-WATU Automobile, a joint venture with the UPDF’s private company NEC, focuses on manufacturing automobile filters and air cleaners.
However, they have had a misunderstanding with Tian Tang Group, which holds a 15% stake in NEC-WATU and allegedly controls the land where the company operates.
Qingshan accused Tian Tang Group for deliberately sabotaging their business by withholding crucial documents such as land titles and trying to force their eviction.
Qingshan warned that if the harassment continues, and the Ugandan government doesn’t intervene, they might have to shut down operations and relocate to neighbouring Rwanda or Kenya.