KAMPALA, Uganda — A senior commander in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery and kidnapping targeting a gold dealer, an incident that has reportedly embarrassed military authorities.
Col. James Kasule, the 2nd Deputy Divisional Commander, was taken into custody to assist investigators in unraveling the incident that unfolded Saturday in Mubende District.
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According to security sources familiar with the investigation, Col. Kasule and a group of soldiers allegedly seized a gold dealer under mysterious circumstances. It is suspected the dealer was carrying a substantial amount of cash from recent gold sales.
The gold dealer was reportedly forced to call friends to transfer funds to his mobile money accounts, which were subsequently withdrawn. Sources also indicated Kasule might have been cheated in an illicit gold deal and took matters into his own hands to recover the money.
A critical piece of evidence recovered at the scene was Col. Kasule’s official military vehicle, directly linking him to the alleged operation. The presence of the vehicle has raised questions about whether the officer abused his official capacity and state resources to facilitate criminal activity.
Following his arrest, Col. Kasule was transferred to Makindye Military Barracks, where he remains in detention as investigations continue.
Sources suggest that if the allegations are substantiated, Kasule could face multiple charges, including armed robbery, kidnapping, abuse of office and extortion.
Efforts to obtain comment from the military spokesperson were unsuccessful. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye stated he had just returned to duty after a long leave and did not yet have information on the matter.
An internal disciplinary inquiry has reportedly been initiated in parallel with police investigations.
Col. Kasule, who was scheduled to retire next year, has held several sensitive command positions during his career, including commander of the UPDF Mountain Brigade and operations commander of Operation Shujaa in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
His alleged involvement has sparked concerns within security circles about increasing cases of indiscipline, corruption and criminal infiltration within elements of the armed forces.
“We are beginning to see more incidents where some officers, particularly those nearing retirement, engage in rogue operations or abuse their positions to accumulate quick wealth,” a military source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said. “It undermines public trust in the security forces and poses a serious national security concern.”
Uganda’s gold trade, much of which is informal and poorly regulated, has long been a draw for criminal enterprises, including smuggling, fraud and violent extortion. The incident in Mubende, a region known for small-scale gold mining, highlights persistent vulnerabilities in the sector.
As of publication, it was unclear whether any accomplices linked to Col. Kasule had also been apprehended.
