The General Court Martial (GCM) located in Makindye, Kampala, has scheduled the commencement of the trial regarding the attack on the Buulo Mareer Forward Operating Base in Somalia for November 23, 2023. The attack, carried out by Al-Shabaab militants on May 26 of this year, resulted in the overrun of the base and the tragic loss of 54 Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) officers’ lives.
Two high-ranking UPDF officers, Major John Stephen Oluk, aged 58, and Major Patrick Zadok Obor, aged 49, both assigned to the Zulu BGXXXVIII Battalion and responsible for commanding the aforementioned base, have been arrested. They face charges of cowardice in action and have been remanded to the Makindye Military Quarter Guard.
During their recent appearance before the GCM, UPDF Director of Prosecutions Lt. Col Raphael Mugisha informed the court that the investigations related to the case have been concluded. In his statement, Lt. Col Mugisha said, “My Lord chairman and honourable court members, investigations are complete. We, therefore, pray that the case is slated for hearing.” This statement led GCM chairperson Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe to adjourn the case to November 23, 2023, for the commencement of the trial.
Prosecution of this case is being handled by Lt. Col Raphael Mugisha, along with Lt. Alex Mukhana, Privates Anthony Phillip Olupot, and Regina Nanzala. On the defense side, Captain Simon Nsubuga Busagwa and Private Priscilla Kakande are representing the accused officers.
The Attack
On May 26, a group of Al-Shabaab militants executed a deadly assault on the Bulomareer Forward Operating Base. The attack was carried out using three vehicles laden with explosives and involved more than 800 fighters. The UPDF’s Lt. Col Edward Nyororo, who served as the deputy to Brig. Gaetano Peter Omola, the Uganda contingent commander in Somalia, was stationed at the base during the attack. Regrettably, Col Nyororo was one of the 54 UPDF soldiers who lost their lives during the dawn attack on the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) base at Bulomareer.
The Late Lt. Colonel Nyororo was the third-highest-ranking UPDF soldier to be killed in Somalia, following Lt. Colonel Patrick Tibihwa and Lt. Colonel Christopher Kaija.
After the attack, President Yoweri Museveni ordered the arrest and charging of Oluka and Obor, alleging that they had given the order for the soldiers to retreat. Museveni also emphasized the role of corruption in the incident, citing the promotion of a soldier responsible for managing an army shop to a commanding position.
Allegations
According to the prosecution, Major John Stephen Oluk and Major Patrick Zadok Obor, who were deployed as the officers in command of ‘D’ Coy and Admin Coy, respectively, at the Bulomareer Forward Operating Base in Somalia on or around May 26, fled the scene and encouraged their subordinates to do the same when they came into contact with Al-Shabaab terrorists. Furthermore, it is alleged that on May 27, while serving as officers in command of the rear/protection force during a search and rescue operation in the areas of Golweyn and Bulomareer, they failed to inspire their officers and militants under their command to engage courageously when encountering the enemy (Al-Shabaab).
