The Uganda Police has announced that, in collaboration with the country’s military, it has arrested 13 soldiers after they attacked a police division in Wakiso District, assaulting police officers including the division commander.
The incident occurred on Monday, May 2.
In a statement, Uganda Police explained that the clash between the soldiers and police—which escalated into an exchange of gunfire—stemmed from an attempt by the soldiers to illegally evict residents living near the police division’s land.
The soldiers are part of a Task Force appointed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, tasked with land management and environmental protection.
Upon arrival in Wakiso, the soldiers asked the District Police Commander (DPC) and his team to help evict the residents. However, the DPC refused, stating the eviction lacked a court order.
The statement reads:
“The DPC declined because there was no court ruling… His refusal angered the soldiers, who were armed, and they beat him. In response, other police officers at the station used firearms, leading to a shootout, and the soldiers fled the scene.”
Police said officers from Police Headquarters in Kampala, working with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), later tracked down the soldiers and arrested them in Yesu Amala, Wakiso.
The 13 soldiers have been detained and will face disciplinary action.
This is not the first time UPDF soldiers have attacked police stations. In late April this year, UPDF’s elite Special Forces Command (SFC) also stormed Lubowa Police Station in Kajjansi Division, beat up the commander and his colleagues, and seized their firearms.
