Five Uganda People’s Defence Forces -UPDF soldiers have been arrested over staging a robbery block and raiding a police station to rescue arrested colleagues. Two soldiers; Pte Isaac Oleti and Pte Jacob Leti on Wednesday staged a roadblock at Kakoola village, Ndejje parish, Makindye Ssabagabo, Municipality, in Wakiso district.
Locals alerted Lumuli Officer Incharge -Assistant Superintendent of Police -ASP Betty Kazungu, who also called the 999 police patrol team to respond. The police found Pte Leti and Pte Oleti when they had stopped several vehicles.
The 999 police patrol team commanded by Innocent Watum arrested the soldiers and detained them at the Lumuli police station. However, eight soldiers under the commander of Sgt Tonny Opio raided the police station and forcefully released Pte Oleti and Pte Leti.
Since the incident has caused a public uproar, UPDF has taken action by arresting five soldiers. Deputy UPDF Spokesperson, Col Deo Akiiki, has identified the arrested soldiers as Corporal Niclous Kasaija, Pte Javira Kazibwe, Pte Leti, and Pte Oleti.
Col Akiiki said the soldiers attached to the guard Battalion have been arrested for conducting illegal operations against their assumed adversary in Kakoola Ssabagabo in Wakiso District. He added that the soldiers’ action contravenes the UPDF Cord of conduct and is against the good order and discipline of UPDF.
“UPDF condemns such behaviour in the strongest terms. Such indiscipline shall never be tolerated as it jeopardizes the good working relationship between the two sister forces. The said soldiers shall be arraigned before the court-martial,” Col Akiiki said.
Deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said they were going to provide the necessary evidence to the Army during the prosecution process of the accused soldiers.
Cold Akiiki further noted that the guards’ Illegal operations affected the movement of vehicles which attracted police and Military deployments in Mutungo who later swung into action and arrested the soldiers.