Renowned Ugandan artist Patrick Mulwana, famously known as Alien Skin, appeared before Makindye Court today to face three new charges of causing bodily harm, in addition to an earlier theft case against him.
The charges were presented by Magistrate Esther Adikini and stem from a recent altercation at Nsambya Hospital, where Alien Skin and his associates allegedly injured three staff members: Dr. Saed Matovu, Alex Odong, and Anthony Muyanda.
The incident reportedly occurred after Alien Skin and his entourage were denied access to documents regarding their late friend, Joram Tumwesigye, who had succumbed to injuries from a motorcycle accident. Both Alien Skin and his bodyguard, Julius Mugabi, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Despite heavy rain, a large crowd of his supporters gathered outside the court in solidarity with the artist. Security forces cleared the court premises, allowing entry only to journalists and individuals directly involved in the case.
Inside the courtroom, Alien Skin’s defense team, led by Precious Nahabwe, applied for bail, presenting his mother, Juliet Nanyanzi, his brother, Nsubuga, and journalist Alia from Ssanyuka TV as sureties. The defense highlighted Alien Skin’s family responsibilities and the need to mourn their deceased friend while proposing a possible settlement with the complainants.
The state prosecutor opposed the bail request, citing concerns about Alien Skin’s influence and the risk of interfering with ongoing investigations. Magistrate Adikini scheduled the bail ruling for Thursday, November 28, 2024.
Meanwhile, the court also addressed the artist’s pending theft case. His lawyers revealed that a settlement agreement had been reached with the complainant, Salim Mubiru. However, Magistrate Adikini postponed the case to December 9, awaiting formal agreement documentation, as Mubiru was absent during the session.
Following the court proceedings, Alien Skin and his co-accused were escorted under heavy police security, sparking rumors of his alleged abduction. These claims were dismissed by his legal team, who expressed hope for a favorable bail ruling in the upcoming hearing.
For now, Alien Skin remains in custody, with the public closely following developments in the high-profile case.