Outrage as retired UPDF soldier dies following alleged brutal police raid on football fans

Mourners at the home of Ibrahim Turyamureba, a 43-yearoild retired UPDF soldier who was allegedly assaulted by police officers in a raid at a local cinema hall in Kamusegu Parish, Bwikara Sub-county, Kagadi District on May 13, 2026. PHOTO/ BYOMUGABI SEGUJJA

Residents of Kamusegu Parish in Bwikara Sub-county, Kagadi District, were left in shock on Thursday after a man was found dead in his rented house following an alleged assault by suspected police officers during a night patrol operation.

The deceased was identified as Ibrahim Turyamureba, 43, a retired Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier and resident of Kicwamba LC1, Kamusegu Parish.

According to residents, the alleged assault happened at around 10:30pm on Wednesday in Kamusegu Trading Centre, where locals had gathered in a cinema hall to watch a Manchester City football match.

Witnesses allege that a police patrol vehicle arrived at the trading centre carrying about 12 officers dressed in police uniforms. Upon arrival, the officers reportedly started beating residents indiscriminately.

Residents said the officers blocked the entrance to the cinema hall and assaulted football fans using electric wires, sticks, and canes.

Mr John Kyomuhendo, the LC1 chairperson of Kamusegu Central, condemned the incident, saying the officers acted aggressively without making any inquiries.

“At around 10:30 pm on Wednesday, police came aggressively and, without inquiries, started beating residents who were watching a Manchester City game in a cinema hall. I was surprised to see such an act happen. These are people who are supposed to provide security, yet they instead caused insecurity,” he said.

Residents said Turyamureba was found dead in his room at around 8 am on Thursday, May 14, 2026 . They suspect he may have succumbed to injuries sustained during the beating.

At the scene, locals reportedly recovered pieces of broken electric wires allegedly used in the assault.

Police officers from Kagadi District later visited the scene and transported the body to Kagadi General Hospital for postmortem examination.

Another victim, Mr John Bright, the vice chairperson of Kicwamba LC1 said he was assaulted and robbed during the assault.

“I was totally shocked when this incident occurred. They did not even give me room to explain who I was, despite being a local leader. They only beat me and robbed Shs640,000 from me before leaving,” he said.

He added that those who failed to produce money were severely beaten.

“There were around 12 officers dressed in police uniform. They were speaking English, Swahili and Rurugwara. They were armed with electric wires, sticks and guns,” he said.

Mr Bright further claimed that the officers were travelling in a police vehicle registration number UP 02871, which residents later saw again when police arrived to pick the body for postmortem.

He said he later recorded a statement at Bwikara Police Post, where he was informed that investigations were ongoing.

Another alleged victim, Mr Godfrey Tusabe, said residents initially suspected they were under attack by rebels before realising the men were dressed in police uniforms.

“The way they entered the hall, I first suspected a rebel attack until I noticed police uniforms. They had masks, making it difficult to identify them. They stood at the doorway demanding money,” he said.

“They took my Shs20,000 and later chased me. Those who did not have money suffered more because they were beaten using electric wires,” he added.

Mr Tusabe further alleged that the officers demanded money from businesspeople inside the hall.

“They asked whether there were any businesspeople among us. Those who raised their hands were ordered to surrender whatever money they had,” he claimed.

Ms Chance Omuhereza, a local bar operator, also alleged that the officers raided her business and assaulted her wife.

“I saw the vehicle approaching and fled when they started chasing people. I narrowly escaped the beatings, but they entered my bar and severely beat my wife. They took about Shs150,000 from the drawer and also stole her smartphone,” she said.

Mr John Byaruhanga, another bar owner, said the chaos erupted as residents watched the football match.

“They came in and started beating whoever was in the hall. However, I did not personally see them taking people’s money. I only heard such claims from other residents,” he said.

When contacted for a comment, the officer in charge of Bwikara Police Post declined to reveal her identity and denied knowledge of any police operation conducted that night. She referred this reporter to Kagadi Central Police Station.

However, the Albertine South Regional Police spokesperson, Mr Julius Allan Hakiza, dismissed the allegations against the police.

“The police do not attack, nor do they rob. The police protect all Ugandans. Those claiming police carried out the attack should report the matter to the regional police headquarters,” he said.

By press time, Turyamureba’s body was still at Kagadi General Hospital awaiting postmortem as residents continue demanding thorough investigations into the attack.