The army has explained the attack on the UPDF Engineers working at Nambole stadium in Kampala.
Below is the statement.
It has come to our attention that today Thursday 23 Mar 2023, between 0900hrs and 1200hrs some individuals led by a one Vice Chairman Kawooya Godfrey and another only identified as “Masada” of Katooke Zone led a group of defiant encroachers on government land and attacked UPDF Engineers on duty with machetes, stones, arrows and bows.
The Engineers were surveying part of the land that hosts Namboole stadium Complex in order to begin laying culverts and block manholes.
The security detail protecting the site and workers, shot three warning shots to disperse Mr Kawooya’s gang but in vain. Chaos ensued and three of our soldiers were injured including Private Masereka Jackson, whose fingers were cut by panga welding gangs. Civilians injured are not yet established as police joins us to investigate the incident further and bring those involved to book.
It should be noted that UPDF engineers are renovating Namboole National stadium. Notices of vacating the premises were sent out to encroachers several times by all concerned authorities and a deadline of 15th Feb 2023 was given. Indeed, upon expiry of these notices a company called Flight Auctioneers was hired to forcefully evict the defiant encroachers.
The UPDF Engineers Brigade will continue to do its work and will not be deterred despite acts of provocation by errant and illegal encroachers on the property. We have beefed up security at the stadium and call upon citizens to respect public property in order to avoid unnecessary injuries and loss of lives.
UPDF remains committed to execute the directive of H.E the president and commander in Chief of ensuring timely, cost effective and quality projects in order to deliver the much-needed services to the people.
DEO AKIIKI psc(U), ndu(USA), MSSS
Col
DEPUTY DEFENCE SPOKESPERSON
