The Democratic Party (DP) has called for the urgent establishment of an independent Military commission following the arrest of more than 20 senior officers from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) over alleged corruption and subversion.
The arrests, reportedly carried out over recent days, targeted high-ranking officers across multiple units. Among those initially detained were Maj. Gen. Don William Nabasa and Brig. Gen. Johnson Namanya Abaho, raising concern within both military and political circles.
Addressing journalists at the party headquarters on Balintuma Road in Mengo on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, DP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Hon. Majwala Denis Lukanga criticized the manner in which the arrests were conducted, describing them as opaque and inconsistent with principles of justice.
“If 20 generals can be whisked away to Kasenyi without a public charge sheet, what hope does an ordinary Ugandan have?” Lukanga asked.
The proposed Military Ombudsman is intended to act as an independent civilian authority to oversee complaints within the military, ensure due process, and investigate allegations of abuse of power.
According to Lukanga, this would align Uganda with international best practices on military accountability and human rights protections.
However, by press time, Brig. Gen. Namanya had been released on the orders of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, signaling what analysts interpret as possible internal reviews or shifting positions within the military’s ongoing operations.
Regarding the LC1 and LC2 elections, the Party criticized the Ministry of Finance for failing to clear the funding of the election due to a funding gap of 58 billion shillings despite the approval of the cabinet.
“We condemn the Ministry of Finance for treating village democracy as an ‘unfunded priority,’” Lukanga said.
The Democratic Party also demanded that the funds for the LC elections be statutorily ring-fenced and proposed that the elections be conducted concurrently with general elections to save 39 billion shillings.
