The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs Adolf Mwesige has reaffirmed that the chaotic situation at Makerere University was never occasioned by the UPDF.
Mwesige and other officials from the ministry were yesterday appearing before the parliamentary committee on education to answer queries of brutality against students at Makerere University by the army.
According to Mwesige, UPDF came in to play a supportive role to the Uganda Police Force after the students had for two days acted in a manner that was in total breach of law and order.
He also stated that the UPDF made strategic deployments in multiple areas of Kampala City due to the increasing rate of armed robbery, murders and kidnaps especially in Kampala Metropolitan Area in August 2018.
“Makerere University was a staging area for the anti-crime operations in the neighboring areas of Wandegeya, Kivulu, Katanga, Kikoni and Kasubi.
“The UPDF opted for Makerere because the Police Stations from where it could have staged had limited space and facilities that could not support a platoon size of a force with their equipment,” he said.
According to the minister, some of the areas the Military Police deployed at include; Luzira, Kiseka Market in Central Kampala, Kamwokya as well as Makerere University.
“Therefore, by the time the strike at Makerere University started on 22nd October 2019, Uganda Police Force sought assistance from the UPDF, Military Police which already had a presence within the Makerere campus.
“The UPDF leadership from its intelligence and other sources came to learn of errors by some individual members of the Force who could have acted out of the rules of engagement normally issued by the supported agency and in this case; the Uganda Police Force.
“Consequently, on 28th October 2019, the UPDF leadership withdrew the Military Police elements that were deployed at the University,” he said.
The minister also noted that the UPDF arrested the Commander who was in charge of the troops operating in Makerere University and detained him at Makindye Military Barracks.
Furthermore, a board of inquiry was set up to investigate all details pertaining to the conduct of the deployed troops.
He said findings from this investigation now in advanced stage will guide the next course of action to be taken against those that will be found culpable.
“As the investigations continue, we wish to state that no person has reported a specific case of sexual assault by a member of the UPDF. Should we however receive such a complaint, it will also be investigated and action taken,” he said.
Other officials from the ministry that were in attendance were Lt Gen. Wilson, the Deputy Army Commander and the Minister of Internal Affairs Mario Obiga Kania.
