Ibanda: UPDF Soldier Stoned To Death, Dumped In A Trench

By Our Reporter

The brutal killing of a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier in Ibanda Municipality has once again raised questions about the safety of security officers in western Uganda, following a string of violent incidents targeting uniformed personnel.

Sergeant Micheal Anguru, a native of Katakwi District attached to Bihanga Army Barracks, was found dead on September 1 after being stoned by unknown assailants. His body was dumped in a trench along Mpira Street in Ibanda town.

Authorities believe Anguru was followed and attacked shortly after leaving a local bar where he had been involved in a heated argument. “It is unfortunate that we lost the life of our gallant soldier,” said Ibanda Resident District Commissioner Godfrey Mbetegyerize, who confirmed that police dogs led investigators to two suspects—a man and a woman—now in custody.

The murder comes just four months after another security officer, Constable Suleiman Chemonges, was lynched by a mob in Ibanda’s Kyembogo Cell, underscoring what officials describe as a worrying trend of hostility against law enforcement and military personnel in the district.

UPDF’s Second Infantry Division spokesperson, Tabaro Kiconco, condemned the killing, pledging close collaboration with police to ensure justice. “This is not a good act against our own soldiers, and we shall not settle until the perpetrators are brought to book,” he said.

Investigators are also seeking testimony from one of Anguru’s colleagues, a soldier and close friend who was reportedly with him that evening, to piece together the events leading to the attack.

Local leaders have urged residents to remain vigilant and share information with authorities, warning that impunity for such crimes undermines both community security and national stability. “Life has no spare parts. We must all be vigilant,” Mbetegyerize emphasized.

The soldier’s death has stirred unease across Ibanda, where many now fear that continued attacks on security officers could embolden criminal elements and erode public confidence in law enforcement.