On the afternoon of April 30, 2025, a violent and unexpected attack shook Lubowa Police Station in Uganda when a group of armed soldiers, suspected to be members of the elite Special Forces Command (SFC), stormed the station, assaulted several police officers, and left multiple people injured.
SFC is a specialized component of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), tasked with President’s security and carrying out special missions.
It all began around 1400/c when the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sunday Innocent, the Officer in Charge of the Lubowa station, received a phone call.
The caller is said to have introduced himself as Lt. Samson Amo, a member of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) purportedly attached to the Special Forces Command claimed to have arrested eight suspects during an operation in the area and demanded the police take them into custody.
When ASP Sunday asked what the suspects were accused of and what kind of operation had taken place, Lt. Amo reportedly became abusive, calling the officer “stupid” and refusing to give clear answers.
Despite the hostility, ASP Sunday invited the officer and another soldier, Private Emmanuel Opio, to the station to discuss the situation further before accepting the detainees.
But what happened next shocked everyone.
According to a source who witnessed the incident and requested anonymity, a vehicle carrying about twelve heavily armed soldiers (registration number H4DF 3348) suddenly arrived and surrounded the station.
In a swift and violent assault lasting just five to10 minutes, the soldiers beat ASP Sunday and several other officers on duty. They also attacked civilians who were at the station for unrelated matters.
The attackers allegedly held everyone at gunpoint before fleeing the scene as members of the local community began to gather.
The eight supposed suspects brought by Lt. Amo were also found to be badly beaten. Six of them had to be rushed to Doctor’s Hospital for emergency treatment.
The reasons behind their arrest remain unclear, as Lt. Amo never explained their alleged crimes to the police.
Other police officers injured in the attack include: Detective Inspector Claire Kisa, Sergeant Kabaho, Detective Sergeant Njose, and Detective Constable Tubwita.
Many civilians caught in the chaos fled the scene, and the number of those injured has not yet been confirmed. In addition to the physical assaults, three police officers had their phones stolen, and several civilians also reported missing belongings.
Shortly after the incident, District Police Commander arrived at the scene, helped evacuate the wounded to the hospital and deployed six more officers to temporarily replace those injured in the attack.
An official investigation is now underway to determine why the eight civilians were arrested and to look into the conduct of the UPDF soldiers involved in this alarming incident.
