Rwenzori Attacks: 41 Confirmed Dead, Over 90 Captured.

In a harrowing wave of coordinated attacks that shook Uganda’s Rwenzori region, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have confirmed the deaths of 41 assailants and the capture of over 90 others following a violent confrontation with armed groups.

The attacks, which occurred on November 1, 2025, targeted police and military installations across Bundibugyo, Kasese, and Fort Portal City, leaving communities tense and heightening concerns about regional security.

According to Major General Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF Director of Defence Public Information, the assailants—armed with submachine guns and machetes—launched simultaneous assaults on several installations, including Kasese Police Barracks, Rugendabara Police Station, UPDF positions at Malindi and Kakuka in Bundibugyo, and Canon Apollo Core Teachers College in Fort Portal City.

Addressing the press on Tuesday at Muhote Army Barracks, Major General Stephen Mugerwa, Commander of the UPDF Mountain Division and Operation Shujaa, confirmed the death toll and arrests, adding that the slain included Asuman Mukirania Muganzi, a resident of Kakukha II Village, Bundibugyo District, believed to have been the ringleader behind the assaults.

“I strongly warn the people in this region against viewing these incidents through a tribal lens,” Mugerwa cautioned. “These attacks involved individuals from different tribes across the country, and there is no justification for interpreting them as tribal conflicts.”

He assured residents that security had been restored and urged them to resume their normal routines without fear, emphasizing that the UPDF had reinforced its presence across the Rwenzori sub-region.

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“The UPDF is fully prepared to confront any threats to peace and security,” he said. “We remain committed to protecting the citizens and maintaining stability. Any attempts to destabilize Uganda will be met with decisive action.”

According to Major Robert Kijuma, Acting Public Relations Officer for the Mountain Division/Operation Shujaa, the bodies of the deceased attackers will be transferred to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary for identification and burial by their families.

Meanwhile, the captured suspects remain detained at Muhote Barracks as investigations continue into the motives, financiers, and networks behind the coordinated attacks. Once investigations are concluded, those implicated will face charges in accordance with the law.