The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) have arrested a man who was captured on video assaulting an officer from the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) last week.
According to the UPDF deputy spokesperson, Col Deo Akiiki, the man seen in the video has been identified as Shaban Wesemoyo, a boda boda tax collector.
The altercation occurred when the soldier, tasked with clearing the route for the president’s convoy, encountered resistance from locals in Mbale last week. In the viral video, a man is seen throwing punches at the soldier, accusing him of causing a traffic jam by halting vehicles to give way to the presidential convoy travelling from Soroti to Mbale State Lodge.
The incident reportedly took place at Nakaloke trading centre (Juba Stage), a junction connecting Mbale and Sironko. Akiiki confirmed that Wesemoyo had been arrested on charges of obstructing presidential security and assaulting a security officer on duty. Akiiki issued a warning to the public against obstructing soldiers while on duty.
He emphasized that security personnel are deployed to ensure the smooth and safe movement of the presidential convoy, including advising road users to vacate the path.
“Such acts of obstruction and misconduct undermine these efforts and will not be tolerated,” Akiiki stated.