Soldiers invade station, beat up Police officers

WAKISO - A number of Special Forces Command (SFC) officers, an elite unit of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), are under investigation following a violent assault on Lubowa Police Station on Wednesday (April 30). 

The attack left several police officers and civilians injured. The incident is documented under Lubowa Police Station reference SD 25/30/04/2025. 

A Police officer, who asked not to be named, said the chaos began around 4:00pm when two soldiers (name withheld), allegedly attached to the SFC, arrived at Lubowa Police Station under Kajjansi Police Division with eight individuals he claimed to have arrested during an operation in the NSSF estate. 

Among the eight were two fellow UPDF officers, yet the soldiers offered no satisfactory explanation for the arrests. Witnesses say the suspects appeared disoriented and in pain. 

“When they [the soldiers] reached the counter, he insisted the suspects be detained. But the officers on duty could not establish the grounds for arrest,” a source said. 

“The suspects looked like they had been beaten, and there was no formal charge. So, the counter officer referred the matter to the officer in charge of the station (OC), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Innocent Sunday.” 

As ASP Sunday attempted to understand the situation, the soldiers reportedly grew increasingly agitated and verbally abusive. According to the official Police report (Lubowa CRB 50/2025), the officer called the OC “stupid” when asked to explain the nature of the arrests.

The attack
 
Without warning, a second group of about 12 heavily armed soldiers arrived at the station aboard a green UPDF-marked patrol vehicle. 

“They jumped out, cocked their guns, surrounded the station and began beating everyone, uniformed officers and civilians alike,” a Police officer recounted. 

ASP Sunday, the OC of the station, was among those assaulted. Other victims included Detective Inspector of Police Claire Kisa, Sgt Kabaho, Detective Sgt Njose and Detective Constable Tubwita. 

The Police report indicates that mobile phones belonging to several of the officers, including the OC, were taken during the melée. Civilians who had come to the station to file complaints or seek services were not spared either. 

“The attack lasted between five and 10 minutes,” reads the Police report. “For now, Lubowa Police Station remains a crime scene,” the Police officer said.

Victims hospitalised  

As the dust settled, emergency teams led by Kajjansi division Police commander Salama Namutosi evacuated the injured to Doctor’s Hospital in Seguku. Sources within the station said following the incident, a case file of aggravated robbery and attempted murder has been opened under SD 25/30/04/2025 against the soldiers involved. 

In the meantime, Lubowa Police Station has been reinforced with six additional personnel to fill the void left by the injured officers.

Police, army respond 

Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy spokesperson of Kampala Metropolitan Police, confirmed the incident in a brief statement. 

“Yes, we have officers who were injured during the attack. The matter is under investigation,” he said. 

Special Forces Command spokesperson, Maj. Jimmy Omara, said he learnt about the incident through the media but confirmed the SFC high command had launched internal inquiries. 

“We have taken note of the report and are investigating it, including verifying whether those involved are indeed part of SFC or from which army unit,” Omara said.
 
This is not the first time security personnel have raided police stations and assaulted officers. 

In June 2022, an incident involving suspected military officers unfolded at Ntinda Police Station when armed men stormed the premises to forcibly release a suspect who had earlier been disarmed after allegedly pointing a pistol at musician Moses Ssali, popularly known as Bebe Cool. 

The defence spokesperson at the time, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, condemned the incident.