By Sekaggya Seka Moses
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Colonel James Kasule, a senior officer in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has been arrested and detained at Makindye Military Barracks in connection with an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping incident targeting a gold dealer in Mubende District.
According to reports, Col. Kasule was arrested today following allegations that he and a group of soldiers seized a gold dealer under mysterious circumstances on Saturday.
The gold dealer was suspected to be carrying large sums of cash from recent gold sales.
After being seized, the gold dealer was allegedly forced to call friends to transfer funds to his mobile money accounts, which were eventually withdrawn.
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that Col. Kasule’s official military vehicle was recovered at the scene of the crime, providing critical evidence that tied him directly to the operation.
This has raised questions about whether the officer abused his official capacity and state resources to facilitate the alleged criminal activity.
Col. Kasule, the 2nd Deputy Divisional Commander in the UPDF, was scheduled to retire from active service next year.
He has served in several sensitive command positions during his military career, including commander of the UPDF Mountain Brigade and operations commander of Operation Shujaa in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Following his arrest, Col. Kasule was transferred to Makindye Military Barracks, where he remains in detention as investigations continue.
If pinned by investigators, Col. Kasule may face multiple charges, including armed robbery, kidnapping, abuse of office, and extortion.
An internal disciplinary inquiry has reportedly been initiated in parallel with police investigations.
The military spokesperson, Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, said he had just resumed his duties after a long leave and was yet to obtain information about the matter.
The incident has raised concerns within security circles about growing cases of indiscipline, corruption, and criminal infiltration within certain elements of the armed forces.
Security analysts warn that the case may signal a broader problem, undermining public trust in the security forces and posing a serious national security concern.
Uganda’s gold trade, much of it informal and poorly regulated, has long been a magnet for criminal enterprises, including smuggling, fraud, and violent extortion.
The incident in Mubende, a region rich in small-scale gold mining activity, underscores the persistent vulnerabilities surrounding the sector.
At the time of publication, it remained unclear whether any accomplices linked to Col. Kasule had also been apprehended.
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