The Chief Magistrate Court in Mukono has remanded four top managers of Tian Tang Group on charges of attempted murder. The managers, Liang Kai, Bin Ding, Chen Cheng, and Ai Wu Zheng (also known as Martin), appeared before Mukono Chief Magistrate Roselyn Nsenge on Tuesday morning.

The charges stem from a violent attack on fellow Chinese investors Liu Qingshan (63) and Lu Hanbin (32), owners of the Ugandan NEC-WATU Automobile Group, on September 18, 2024, at their apartment in Namanve Industrial Park. The attack, allegedly orchestrated by seven Chinese nationals with possible support from armed individuals linked to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), took place around 5:00 AM.

The assailants broke into the apartment, smashing windows and doors before assaulting Qingshan and Hanbin, and stealing electronic devices such as phones and computers. The victims sustained serious injuries and were taken to Nakasero Hospital for treatment. Liang Kai faces two counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit a felony, Bin Ding is charged with attempted murder, and Ai Wu Zheng is accused of attempted murder and malicious damage.

The suspects sought bail through their lawyers from Arcadia Advocates, but the prosecution, led by Emily Ninsima, opposed the request, citing the need to assess the victims’ health and the credibility of the sureties. As a result, the Chief Magistrate remanded the suspects until September 30. Court proceedings were difficult to cover for journalists due to heavy military and security presence, including plainclothes officers, who obstructed recordings.

The suspects, meanwhile, requested not to be humiliated by being placed on a police patrol vehicle and were instead transported by a vehicle from the Kauga commandant. They were also allowed to receive mattresses and blankets from their aides during their stay at Kauga Prison. The accused have applied to be transferred to Luzira Prison, claiming discomfort at Kauga.

The charges appear to be linked to ongoing business tensions between NEC-WATU Automobile and Tian Tang Group. NEC-WATU, a joint venture with the UPDF’s private company NEC, manufactures automobile filters and air cleaners. Tian Tang Group, which holds a 15% stake in NEC-WATU and allegedly controls the land where the company operates, has been accused by Qingshan of attempting to sabotage their business by withholding key documents and forcing eviction.

Qingshan warned that if the harassment continues and the Ugandan government does not intervene, they may be forced to shut down their operations and relocate to Rwanda or Kenya.