POLICE | COURT | TERRORISM 

KAMPALA - The Uganda Police Force has said its Directorate of Crime Intelligence had on Monday, September 19, 2022, charged two more suspects of the self-styled, antigovernment rebel group, Uganda National Coalition for Change (UNCC), at the Court Martial in Makindye. 

Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga identified the accused persons as Benon Kisseka alias Andrew alias Hussein, who was tracked down and arrested from Naminya village, Naluwerere, Wakisi sub-county in Buikwe District; and Kassim Kibirango alias Muwanga alias Dog city, who was traced and arrested from Namutamba village, Kagerekamu parish, Ssekanyonyi sub-county in Mityana District. 

“They both participated in the establishment of the rebel camps in Wabunyira, Kikandwa and Kabosi villages. 

In addition, Kibirango participated in the attack on Nakasozi police post in Kiboga, where they killed Corporal Francis Nsubuga and Special Police Constable Paul Ddimba and robbed their guns. On the other hand, Kisseka, was actively involved in the distribution of funds from external sources and facilitation of the UNCC rebel network in the country,” Enanga said. 

The charging of the two now brings the total number of accused persons to 21, who are suspected to have carried out attacks on police and Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel at Wakiso, Busunju in Mityana and Nakasozi in Kiboga, where four police officers were killed, 2 UPDF officers injured and 5 guns robbed. However, all 5 guns were eventually recovered. 

Enanga said the two were charged with 10 counts as follows; Treachery (1), Aggravated Robbery (3), Murder (4) and unlawful possession of firearms (2). We continue to caution the youth against any recruitment into such hostile rebel groups, due to the negative impact and related consequences. 

“As the Joint Security Agencies, we remain committed and determined, to keep Ugandans and other citizens in the country safe, from such threats of violent extremism. The operations targeting other remnants of the rebel group and their co-conspirators are still active and ongoing,” he added. 

In December last year, Police said a new rebel group was responsible for the murder of several police officers in the central region. 

Police revealed that a gang operating under UCFC had been burst by police and they confessed to the murders. 

Police noted that the gang members revealed that they were recruited from areas of Wakiso and confessed to having murdered police officers in Busunju and Kiboga on December 7, 2021, and December 17, 2022, respectively. 

The first batch of suspects who were arrested were presented before the Court Martial, charged and remanded.