Uganda army says two soldiers detained over election violence should face the law

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The Uganda army says two of its soldiers arrested over violence during the National Resistance Movement party primaries period in Buhweju district must face the law.

Army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said on July 21, 2025, nobody is above the laws of Uganda and that the law should take its course.

“Since the Police are investigating, the suspects should be prosecuted according to the laws of Uganda,” Kulayigye said.

The two military officers have been identified as Lt Robert Ssebunya, attached to the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade and Lt Col (rtd) James Tumusiime, 60, of Nabweru, Nansana Municipality in Wakiso district.

The duo is accused of attacking Edwin Kamukama Ndebesa of Rwanyamabare village, Nyakishana sub-county, Buhweju district, on the eve of primaries for the Member of Parliament seat.

John Baptist Mwesigye (With a white mask), Godfrey Kyandiga (one in black), Mugisha Savino (one with a follow-up shirt) and Robert Ssebunya after being arrested in Buhweju. (Courtesy)

The elections referred to as a political tsunami by some circles were held on July 17, 2025 and over 10 ministers and several other incumbent MPs were defeated.

Kamukama had reportedly travelled to the village to participate in the vote for Buhweju West County.

In the contest, incumbent Biraro Emphrahim Gashanga faced off with John Bosco Kaliisa, a former staffer at the defence ministry and Wyclfe Tumuhimbise.

My brother, who happens to be Edwin Kamukama, had gone to vote, and Kaliisa knows that Edwin supports Biraro,” Emily Kembabazi, Kamukama’s elder sister, said.

According to Kembabazi, his brother arrived in the village together with colleagues on Tuesday evening with a programme of having a farm visit a day before the elections on Wednesday. 

“On Wednesday afternoon, as they were heading out for a farm visit, goons and the army guys that he uses illegally struck. They were six using two cars, a green TX and a white Lexus. They intercepted my brother, went and gagged him in front. They came out and started stoning his car, Toyota V8 reg no. UA 920 AK. The other came and knocked him from behind. That’s when my brother called in police,” Kembabazi said.

According to Kembabazi, when police arrived, Kamukama’s tormentors locked themselves inside their cars, and they couldn’t open until the district police commander (DPC), Timothy Ndawula, called in the military from Nsika Police Station. The suspects were arrested and the vehicles were towed for search and inspection.

Police have identified the other suspects arrested alongside the military officers as Godfrey Kyandiga, aged 41, a driver from Namugongo Ward, Kira division, Wakiso district and John Baptist Mwesigye, aged 32, from Wakiso. Savino Mugisha, aged 48, a businessman from Buhweju, was also arrested.

The Buhweju Police, in its statement, indicated that Kamukawa was attacked at about 4:30 pm while coming from Nyakataka cell, going back to his home.

“The suspects opened the door of their vehicle, threw stones at the vehicle of the victim, hence damaging the windshield on the passenger side, bonnet and front bumper. The suspects went ahead and blocked the victim's vehicle using their own vehicle, Toyota Harrier, white in colour,” Apollo Tayebwa, police spokesperson for greater Bushenyi, said.

He said that when the search for the vehicles was conducted at Buhweju central police station, a pistol serial number UG UPDF G 259085 with eight rounds of ammunition was discovered in the suspects’ Toyota Harrier Reg No. UBD 645S and an AK 47 gun with a magazine which had one bullet in the chamber were also found.

Fire arms and ammunitions discovered in the cars of Buhweju election violence suspects. (Courtesy)

(Courtesy)

Tayebwa added that three magazines were found in an army green Toyota Land Cruiser reg no. UAQ 633A.

Investigations, Police say, are ongoing and the officers and other suspects' case files have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice.

Criminal conduct

NRM communication director Emmanuel Ddombo, in response to the incident, said, “If the army had been deployed by the Police, or at the request of the Police, that is permissible under the law, but the command remains with the Police and the code of conduct derived from the command the army will be using.”

“However, when the army comes on behalf of an opponent, in other words, the army is becoming a partisan issue; this is criminal conduct, and it is an issue that can be handled by the NRM election tribunal as a matter of interference in the election,” he said.