WAKISO, Uganda — Tensions ran high at the Wakiso Police Division on Monday 2, June 2025 evening following an incident where soldiers, purportedly from the presidential taskforce on Land Matters and Environment led by Brig Moses Lukyamuzi, forcibly entered the station demanding the release of individuals in custody.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the soldiers allegedly accosted the Division Police Commander (DPC), SP Esther Kiiza, and, at gunpoint, ordered her to undress, leading to a tense standoff.
According to Kiiza, “They came and ordered me to undress. They claimed I had defied orders. I asked them whose orders I had defied. They insisted I needed to remove the uniform because I was under arrest.”
Her refusal and firm response alerted thirteen police officers present, who reportedly cocked their firearms and surrounded the DPC’s office, prepared to defend their commander.
Faced with the prospect of an immediate confrontation, the ten soldiers reportedly fled the scene in their vehicles. The Officer in harge of the station (OC) promptly notified the Kampala North regional police commander (RPC), SSP Moses Nanoka, who coordinated with the Kakiri military barracks for reinforcements.
Shortly thereafter, SSP Nanoka arrived at the Wakiso Police Division accompanied by a contingent of soldiers. They were informed that the initial group of soldiers had just departed, and a pursuit was initiated.
“We were able to surround the soldiers’ vehicles at Yesu Amala. They refused to get out of the cars, claiming they needed to receive orders from their superiors. We refused to entertain that explanation and arrested them,” SSP Nanoka reportedly stated in a briefing sent to the Kampala Metropolitan police headquarters.
Also Read: Ugandan soldiers raid Lubowa Police Station, assault officers and civilians
The apprehended soldiers were not taken to the police station but were instead transported to the Kakiri military barracks for further handling. This event follows a similar incident less than a month prior at the Lubowa police station, where Special Forces Command (SFC) soldiers, allegedly led by Lt Samson Amo, reportedly assaulted police officers and civilians at the station.
In the Lubowa incident, Amo had purportedly instructed ASP Innocent Sunday, the station commander, to detain suspects without proper charges. When ASP Sunday refused, he was allegedly repeatedly slapped, and officers who intervened were also assaulted.
Despite the police filing aggravated robbery charges against Amo and his men, the case has reportedly stalled due to the SFC’s alleged failure to hand over the suspects for prosecution.
