Police in Luwero are holding two Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) soldiers who have been accused of extorting money from Ronald Ndawula, the District National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson.
The soldiers, allegedly attached to Ruhengyere Army Barracks, were apprehended at Pension House in Luwero Town Council on Tuesday, 21st May, 2024 and subsequently transferred to Luwero Central Police Station. One suspect has been identified as Private Moses Omita.
Omita, who hails from Luwero district, reportedly called Ndawula multiple times, informing him that he and others had been hired to assassinate him. Omita then demanded an unspecified amount of money from Ndawula to abandon the mission and spare his life.
In response, Ndawula sent the alleged killers 220,000 Shillings as fuel money and arranged to meet them at Pension House to discuss the details of the plot and the payment. Before the meeting, Ndawula reported the matter to Luwero Central Police Station. Police officers were deployed and arrested the UPDF soldiers upon their arrival at the building.
Ndawula suspects the plot was an attempt to extort money from him rather than a genuine assassination plan.
Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson Sam Twineamazima confirmed the arrest of the UPDF soldiers but refrained from providing further details. He stated that the suspects had been handed over to Bombo Military Barracks for further investigation.
The spokesperson for Bombo Military Barracks was unavailable for comment. Criminal activities involving UPDF soldiers are not unprecedented. In April this year, a Special Forces Command officer, Julius Ecee, attached to the Field Artillery Regiment in Nakaseke district, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and received an additional 40-year sentence for aggravated robbery.