Thirteen soldiers were on Monday evening arrested after staging an armed confrontation at Wakiso Police Division in what police say was a failed attempt to enforce an illegal land eviction.
In a statement issued by the Kampala Metropolitan Police, the incident occurred at around 5:00 PM when the soldiers, reportedly from the Presidential Taskforce on Land Matters and Environment, arrived at the station aboard two vehicles — a green minibus registration number UBG 041U and a Toyota Noah UBR 647B.
The group is said to have directly confronted the Wakiso Division Police Commander (DPC), demanding that she facilitate the eviction of individuals from a contested piece of land.
The DPC, whose name was not disclosed, declined the request, arguing that the eviction lacked legal backing, including a court order and clearance from the District Security Committee.
Her refusal reportedly agitated the soldiers, prompting a confrontation that escalated into a gunfire exchange with police officers at the station. The soldiers later fled the scene.
However, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police, a joint team of officers from Kampala Metropolitan North and the UPDF pursued and intercepted the group at Yesu Amala, a locality in Wakiso District. All thirteen were arrested without further incident.
“The detained soldiers are currently in custody pending disciplinary action,” the police statement read in part.
Security agencies have since assured the public that investigations are underway and emphasized that lawful procedures must be followed in resolving land matters, regardless of the parties involved.