The Presidency has announced an internal probe into allegations that members of the Special Forces Command (SFC) tortured a civilian during a convoy clearance in Kampala.
The investigation follows a public outcry sparked by media personality Mark Agaba, widely known as Uncle Mark, who accused SFC officers of brutalising his brother during an emergency errand.
Agaba’s brother had reportedly been rushing to reach his pregnant wife, who had slipped in the bathroom, when he was stopped along with other motorists to allow the presidential convoy to pass.
According to Agaba, his brother tried to reposition his motorcycle to find alternative transport but was instead assaulted, thrown into the boot of a vehicle, and detained for two days.
When he returned home, Agaba wrote, his toenails had been ripped out. The family later lost the baby.
The account, shared in an open letter to the Ministry of Defence and widely circulated on social media, has drawn a strong emotional reaction from the public.
Many Ugandans have long complained of convoy-related abuses, but few cases have been acknowledged by the state—until now.
In a May 20 statement, State House Uganda said it had launched an internal investigation “to establish the full details.”
It also confirmed that Agaba had been contacted to help identify the victim and provide further information that could lead to the officers responsible.
“We also call upon the general public and any other persons that could help avail further details on the same or any other events,” the statement read.
Public frustration over presidential convoys in Uganda has been mounting for years, with many citizens complaining about the excessive number of vehicles in the convoys and the sweeping traffic closures that accompany them.
When the President is on the move, not only is the immediate route sealed off, but adjoining and intersecting roads are also temporarily closed, often without warning, leaving motorists stranded for extended periods.
Ambulances, school transport, and people in emergencies are frequently caught in these gridlocks, leading to delays that can cost lives.
The convoys—typically comprising dozens of vehicles, including lead motorcycles, armed escorts, communication trucks, and backup cars—cut through traffic with impunity, reinforcing a sense of inequality on the roads and deepening resentment among ordinary citizens who feel disregarded in favour of rigid security protocols.
In March, a separate case attracted public outrage after Judith Nalukwago, a doctor, recounted on social media how a man died at Arena Mall, unable to access Nsambya Hospital just 700 metres away due to a road closure for the presidential convoy.
“Protecting the President is important,” she wrote, “but where’s humanity? Should we just let people continue to die in ambulances because the President is passing?”
In another viral post, she added, “A person dies at Arena Mall and their destination was Nsambya hospital. You want to rule over dead people. I am disgusted.”
Despite the long-standing public outcry, State House and the Special Forces Command have rarely issued responses, even when serious allegations of misconduct have surfaced.
Complaints of brutality, unlawful arrests, and unnecessary force during convoy operations have often been met with silence or dismissed altogether, fuelling a perception of impunity within the security apparatus.
However, the latest decision to probe the SFC over the alleged torture of Uncle Mark’s brother marks a rare departure from that pattern.
Whether it signals a genuine shift in how the presidency engages with public concerns—or simply that Agaba’s message struck a chord due to its personal tragedy and wide reach—remains to be seen.
Nonetheless, the acknowledgment has given rise to cautious optimism that future grievances may no longer be so easily ignored.