After weeks of public outrage, blame games, and denials, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) formally apologised for the violence meted out by its personnel during the recent Kawempe North by-election, where several civilians, including journalists, were badly beaten.
The apology was delivered by Lt. Gen. Samuel Okiding, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, while appearing before Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee. Okiding described the violence as “operational mistakes” committed by officers who allegedly lost emotional control under provocation.
“Allow me to take this opportunity to officially apologise to this Committee,” said Okiding. “We are very sorry. We saw what happened — it was purely operational mistakes. That is not our doctrine. But out of 1,000 people, there are those who can’t control their emotional conscience. When provoked, somebody overreacts — that occurred out of provocation, but it didn’t warrant that degree of reaction.”
The violent crackdown in Kawempe North left multiple civilians injured, among them journalists covering the by-election. Graphic footage showed uniformed personnel battering members of the press and voters in broad daylight, sparking public condemnation and demands for accountability. Several journalists are still recovering from injuries sustained during the attacks.
Lt. Gen. Okiding told the Committee that those responsible for the brutality have been arrested and are currently in detention pending investigations. “We took action — people were arrested. A Committee was constituted to investigate. As we speak, they are in jail, and investigations are ongoing. We shall punish them. There is no escape, no shortcut,” he added.
The apology came after Lwemiyaga County MP, Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo, challenged UPDF leadership to explain the use of excessive force, especially after President Museveni — the Commander-in-Chief — publicly denied authorising any military involvement in the violence.
“We witnessed our own in uniform beating journalists and people, and the Commander-in-Chief came out to say that wasn’t instructed by any authority,” Ssekikubo said. “Are there wrong elements putting on the uniform within the UPDF that you are superintending over?”
The issue of accountability was further complicated by the continued absence of Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba from parliamentary oversight sessions. MPs questioned why the CDF had repeatedly snubbed summons from the Committee.
In response, Defence Minister Jacob Oboth claimed that Gen. Muhoozi had been “overwhelmed” by love from the public, both locally and internationally, making it difficult for him to find time to attend Parliament.
“We have realized this Committee, just like any other group of Ugandans, they love the CDF — and that keeps him very busy within Uganda and outside. This love should be handled well. Deputy CDF, make sure the CDF creates time for this Committee,” Oboth said, sparking murmurs of disbelief from MPs.
The apology, though welcomed by some, has done little to ease public anger, especially from media advocacy groups and civil society organizations demanding justice for the assaulted journalists.
Earlier, the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA) boycotted coverage of the Uganda Police Force after the Minister of Internal Affairs, Kahinda Otafiire refused to apologise for the brutality meted out by journalists during the Kawempe by-elections, saying when one reaches Jesus, they don’t need a Bishop to plead on their behalf, arguing that President Museveni made a statement regarding that matter, and thus, he as a bishop has nothing else to add.
This followed demands by Lutamaguzi Ssemakula (Nakaseke South) who demanded the Minister apologise to the journalists in Uganda, for the brutality and abduction inflicted upon some members of the Fourth Estate, demands Otafiire rejected, saying he was away in Zimbabwe when the Kawempe by-elections chaos happened.
