A group of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers, reportedly led by a lieutenant, raided Lubowa Police Station in Kampala on Wednesday evening. The soldiers disarmed police officers and detained more than ten civilians during the incident.
According to reports, the lieutenant initially arrived at the station to lodge a complaint about a vehicle parked near the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) estate in Lubowa.
As police commanders attempted to address the situation, at least ten more soldiers arrived and confronted the armed police officers. The soldiers reportedly threatened to shoot everyone at the station.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Innocent Sunday, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lubowa Police Station, instructed his officers to lay down their weapons in an attempt to de-escalate the standoff. Despite this, the soldiers advanced and held everyone at gunpoint, including ASP Sunday.
The soldiers allegedly assaulted both the police officers and civilians who were at the station to report crimes or check on detained individuals.
Following the altercation, the soldiers fled the scene.
ASP Sunday, his subordinates, and several civilians sustained serious injuries and were admitted to various medical facilities.
The police have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident. The motive behind the UPDF soldiers’ actions remains unclear.
