Wakiso, Uganda — In what felt like a scene straight out of an action movie, 13 UPDF soldiers were arrested on Monday evening, June 2, 2025, after storming Wakiso Police Station in a heated land dispute gone wrong.
It all started around 5:00 PM when the soldiers, said to be from the Presidential Taskforce on Land Matters and Environment, rolled up to the station in a green mini bus (Reg. UBG 041U) and a Toyota Noah (Reg. UBR 647B). Their mission? To force police officers to carry out a land eviction.
But there was one problem — they didn’t have a court order.
Wakiso’s District Police Commander (DPC) stood her ground, telling the soldiers she couldn’t carry out the eviction without legal documents or clearance from the district security committee. Instead of backing down, the soldiers got aggressive and confronted her directly.
Things quickly escalated. Wakiso police officers responded with armed force, leading to an exchange of gunfire right at the station. The soldiers fled the scene under pressure.
Soon after, backup from Kampala Metropolitan Police North Region and the UPDF launched a manhunt and caught up with the suspects in Yesu Amala, Wakiso District. All 13 soldiers were arrested and are now in custody pending disciplinary action.
This dramatic showdown adds to a growing list of cases where soldiers have been accused of abusing power in land matters. Similar incidents have happened before, where armed forces have tried to take over land without following legal procedures.
As investigations continue, many are now asking: Who sent these soldiers? And why was force even considered an option?
Stay tuned — this land fight is far from over.
