13 soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), including Lt Samson Amo of the Special Forces Command (SFC), are under investigation for a violent raid on Lubowa Police Station that occurred Wednesday afternoon.
According to police reports, the group stormed the station around 2 p.m., allegedly assaulting officers and civilians, and robbing both personnel and members of the public. A case of aggravated robbery and assault has since been opened against the group.
The incident was detailed in a report by Kajjansi Division Police Commander, Salama Namutosi, addressed to Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Richard Echega.
Namutosi stated that Lt Amo first contacted ASP Innocent Sunday, the Officer in Charge at Lubowa, requesting the detention of individuals reportedly apprehended during a UPDF operation in Lubowa.
When ASP Sunday questioned the legitimacy of the arrests and asked for clarification on the charges, Lt Amo allegedly responded with insults.
Shortly after, Lt Amo and Private Opio Emmanuel arrived at the station. Before any discussion could take place, 12 armed soldiers arrived in a military vehicle (M/V H4DF 3348), surrounded the station, and held officers at gunpoint.
What followed was a violent confrontation. ASP Sunday and four of his colleagues — IP Claire Kisa, Sgt Kabaho, Sgt Njose, and Constable Tubwita — were reportedly beaten by the soldiers.
Civilians present at the station were also assaulted. The situation only de-escalated after a crowd gathered, prompting the soldiers to flee.
The eight individuals initially detained by the soldiers were found to have been severely beaten. Six of them were later admitted to Doctor’s Hospital on Entebbe Road for treatment. The motive behind their arrest remains unclear, as Lt Amo was unable to provide an explanation.
Namutosi confirmed that investigations into charges of aggravated robbery and attempted murder are underway. Additional police personnel have been deployed to Lubowa station to replace the injured officers and ensure continued operations.
Commenting on the incident, Acting UPDF Spokesperson Col Chris Magezi acknowledged the clash, suggesting it may have stemmed from a “failure of coordination” between security agencies. He added that both the UPDF and police are jointly investigating the matter and stressed the need for unity among Uganda’s security forces to uphold peace and order.
