The Acting Director Defence Public Information at Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF, Colonel Chris Magezi has said that Lt Herbert Mabonga, formerly a junior officer attached to the Chieftaincy of Defence Intelligence and Security will be arrested soon and brought to military Justice.
In his press release dated October 1st, 2026, Col Magezi said that Mabonga is a deserter and is wanted for many other charges and in due course will be dealt with according to the law.
“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has taken note of serious criminal allegations made on social media platforms against the institution, the CDF, and the President of Uganda. The claims attributed to Lt Mabonga, a UPDF deserter, are a pile of unsubstantiated rubbish composed of forgeries, doctored images, and concoctions,” Col Magezi said.
Col Magezi noted that Mabongo, a junior officer attached to the Chieftaincy of Defence Intelligence and Security was transferred to the Mountain Infantry Division headquarters in Fort Portal for reassignment in April 2026. However, he did not report to his new duty station and was subsequently declared AWOL and his status upgraded to desertion and has been involved in many criminal activities.
“Eventually, his AWOL status was upgraded to desertion, and he has been on the run since. In addition, Lt Mabonga is wanted on criminal allegations of extortion of funds from business groups and individuals in Kampala and other areas, as well as involvement in fraudulent land transactions and forgeries of land titles,” Col Magezi added.
Mabonga has been trending on social media after releasing alleged videos of FDC activist Sam Mugumya in a safe house trying to walk and also released a list of other people allegedly under detention in various military safe houses around Kampala.
After Mabonga releasing the footage and lists, he was hailed by many opposition activists as a whistle blower though the UPDF has come out to clarify that the said footage and lists are all a concoction and forgeries and that Mabonga is just an indisciplined and disgruntled junior officer who will be dealt with according to the laws of the country.
