UPDF Soldiers Attack Lubowa Police Station; Assualt Cops on Duty
Kampala, Uganda— In a brazen and shocking act of military lawlessness, a group of armed Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers reportedly stormed Lubowa Police Station in Kajjansi Division, beating up police officers, assaulting civilians, and robbing personal property in what police have described as a case of aggravated robbery and attempted murder.
According to a police report seen by this publication, the incident occurred around 2:00pm on April 30 when ASP Sunday Innocent, Officer in Charge (OC) of Lubowa Police Station, received a phone call from a man identifying himself as Lt. Samson Amo of the Special Forces Command (SFC).
Lt. Amo allegedly instructed the OC to prepare for the detention of eight individuals he claimed had been arrested during an unspecified operation in Lubowa.
When ASP Sunday questioned the nature of the operation and the offence committed by the suspects, Lt. Amo reportedly responded with verbal abuse, telling the officer to “stop being stupid.”
As the OC attempted to make sense of the situation and engaged the soldier—who was accompanied by RA 250778 Private Emmanuel Opio—he invited them into his office for further clarification.
But before any explanation could be made, the station was abruptly surrounded by approximately 12 armed UPDF soldiers aboard a military vehicle bearing registration number H4DF 3348.
What followed was a scene of chaos and violence: “They put everyone at gunpoint, beat up the OC and other officers on duty, and assaulted clients who had come to the station,” the report states. The soldiers then fled the scene after members of the local community gathered in alarm.
Injured
Among the most seriously injured were the eight individuals brought in by Lt. Amo, six of whom were admitted to Doctor’s Hospital with severe injuries. The motive for their arrest remains unclear.
Five police officers were physically assaulted and robbed during the attack:
- ASP Sunday Innocent
- D/IP Claire Kisa
- Sgt Kabaho
- D/Sgt Njose
- D/C Tubwita
Three of the officers’ phones were reportedly stolen, along with an unknown number of civilian phones and other personal items. The number of injured civilians is yet to be confirmed as many fled the scene in panic.
Police responded by opening a case of aggravated robbery and attempted murder against Lt. Samson Amo and his colleagues.
This incident comes amid growing public concern over a spate of violent misconduct involving military personnel in Uganda.
On March 3, a UPDF soldier shot his girlfriend dead at Kaweweta Training School.
Two years ago, Robert Mukebezi, a traffic police officer, was shot by an army officer in Kampala after towing a military vehicle that had been involved in an accident in Ntinda, Kampala, to Kira Road Police Station.
Police said SP Namutosi Salama, the Division Police Commander, responded swiftly to evacuate the wounded from Lubowa Police Station and restore order.
The station has since been reinforced with additional personnel, and the Regional Police Commander has ordered immediate issuance of medical forms (PF3) to the victims and launched inquiries into both the motive for the initial arrests and the conduct of the UPDF officers involved.
The UPDF has not yet issued a public statement regarding the Lubowa incident.
Source. Chimp Reports