By Two men accused of unlawfully donning Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) uniforms to intimidate residents in a land dispute have been charged and remanded to prison.
Joseph Mucunguzi, alias Munde, and Champion Julius appeared before the Chief Magistrates Court in Ibanda District on Wednesday, where they were formally charged with impersonating military personnel in violation of Section 152(1) of the Penal Code Act.
Latest
Defence Lawyers Slam Court For ‘Evading Duty’ After Besigye Denied Mandatory Bail
Bobi Wine Pays Tribute to Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: “A Revolutionary Storyteller And Son of Africa”
Nakawa Magistrate Takes Brief Recess to Consider Besigye’s Mandatory Bail Application
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, African Literary Legend, Dies at 87
Lt Gen Elwelu, Six Other UPDF Generals Begin Retirement Process
Museveni Rallies Great Lakes Leaders To Reject Foreign Meddling, Embrace African Unity
Third Suspect in Lira Land Bribery Scandal Remanded Over UGX 70M Fraud Plot
UEDCL Targets Vandalism, Vows To Lower Tariffs And Replace Faulty Meters
Police Intervene As Fistfights Rock DP Offices Days To Delegates Conference
Why Bobi Wine Trusts Joel Ssenyonyi And David Lewis Rubongoya
UPC Calls For Moral Revival Ahead Of Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations
The charges stem from multiple incidents in which the duo, along with unidentified accomplices still at large, allegedly wore full UPDF attire while threatening and attempting to evict residents of Kyembogo village, Karangara Ward in Bisheshe Division.
According to the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, which coordinated the arrests with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the two suspects used military intimidation tactics in a bid to enforce evictions on behalf of one Mbabazi Vincent. Authorities say Mbabazi unlawfully acquired title to the land in question and had enlisted the accused to terrorize residents into vacating it.
“The suspects wore military gear to create fear and force residents off land involved in a legal dispute. This amounts to impersonation of military personnel and intimidation,” a spokesperson for the investigating agencies noted.
Residents of Kyembogo village reportedly lived in fear as the suspects repeatedly paraded through the area in uniform, threatening violence if locals refused to vacate.
Both suspects were remanded to prison until June 11, 2025, as investigations continue and efforts to apprehend their accomplices intensify.
Illegal possession or use of military attire without proper authorization is a serious offence under Ugandan law, attracting significant penalties due to the potential for abuse, including impersonation, intimidation, and erosion of public trust in the country’s security forces.
Read Also
Bobi Wine Signs MoU To Compensate Teso War Victims Upon Ascension To Power
Faridah Nambi Seeks Legal Costs After Court Voids Kawempe North By-Election
Mpuuga’s Democratic Front Joins Uganda’s Expanding List Of Over 26 Political Parties
Mayor Uhuru Urges Kampala Residents to Renew National IDs as Mass Exercise Begins
Mpuuga Launches Democratic Front, A New Chapter In Uganda’s Opposition Politics
Mpuuga Welcomes Museveni’s Apology Buganda, Demands His Exit Like Nyerere
The UPDF has previously warned the public against unauthorised use of military gear, citing national security concerns.
Officials have urged any members of the public who may have information about others involved in the Kyembogo land intimidation scheme to come forward and support the investigation.
