The Special Forces Command (SFC) has distanced itself from an individual posing as one of their generals, who is accused of orchestrating land grabs in Rakai District.
Dr. Ssengooba Kasule, a retired lecturer from Kyambogo University, recently lodged a petition with the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, alleging that a man named Philly Samula, claiming to be an SFC general, forcibly took over 198 hectares of his farmland in the villages of Kanoni and Luteebe, Lwanda sub-county, Rakai.
Dr. Ssengooba further accused Samula of inciting local residents to seize additional sections of his land.
In his appeal, Dr. Ssengooba expressed disappointment, citing the government’s record of maintaining discipline within the armed forces.
He feared such incidents harked back to previous regimes where civilians were harassed by military personnel with impunity.
However, Maj. Jimmy Omara, the SFC spokesperson, issued a statement clarifying that Samula has no ties to the SFC.
“As SFC, we have no record of a militant or officer by the name of Samula Philly. He is falsely representing himself as an SFC officer. Mobilising community members to seize land, destroy property, and harm livestock while invoking the SFC name not only tarnishes our reputation but is also a criminal act,” Maj. Omara said.
He said SFC, in coordination with the police, has initiated investigations to apprehend Samula and bring him to justice.
Whereas Samula is identifying himself as a ‘general’ in the Special Forces Command, there are only three officers at the ranks of general in the SFC including the Commander, Maj Gen David Mugisha, his deputy, Brig Gen Asaph Nyakikuru and Brig Gen Paul Namawa, the newly promoted and appointed chief of staff.
This means anyone with another name claiming to be a ‘general’ is a masquerader.
