The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) announced on Friday that they have detained a soldier at the rank of Private, identified as Kyambadde. The soldier is facing charges of impersonation after allegedly promoting himself to the rank of Major and assuming the corresponding responsibilities.
The UPDF, through their official communication channels, stated, “Private Kyambadde has been masquerading as a UPDF senior officer at the rank of Major. He is in our custody and will be answering to charges of impersonation and other activities prejudicial to good order and discipline of the UPDF.”
Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye, the army spokesperson, later confirmed the detention and explained that the suspect would be arraigned in court to face charges related to impersonation and potentially other criminal activities. Although the exact duration of Kyambadde’s self-promotion remains unclear, the army is conducting investigations into his alleged involvement in criminal activities.
This incident is not isolated, as impersonation cases within the UPDF have been reported previously. Brig Gen Kulayigye acknowledged that such cases have occurred in the past, emphasizing that the UPDF takes swift action to address them. He noted that the UPDF’s response involves charging the suspects before a court of law to ensure accountability.
Kyambadde is not the first individual to face accusations of impersonation within the armed forces. Similar incidents have been reported in the past, including the arrest of a woman posing as a Colonel in Buyende District last year. Another notable case involved the arrest of four suspects posing as UPDF officers during a joint security operation in Rubaga Division, Kampala, in May 2022.
Brig Gen Kulayigye highlighted the UPDF’s commitment to addressing such cases within the legal framework.
