Kampala, Uganda – State House Uganda has acknowledged disturbing allegations of high-handedness and abuse by members of the Special Forces Command (SFC) following claims made public by a Ugandan citizen Mr. Mark Agaba.
In a statement dated May 20, 2025, the State House confirmed that the SFC is actively investigating the matter after receiving Agaba’s complaint which accuses certain SFC officers of unlawful conduct.
“The SFC has taken deliberate steps to investigate the matter to establish its full details,” reads the official communication from State House.
Though specifics remain under wraps for legal reasons, Mark Agaba’s public statement reportedly details an incident involving excessive force implicating individuals believed to be within the ranks of the elite Special Forces Command one of Uganda’s most powerful security organs directly linked to the Presidency.
SFC, often considered the guardian of Uganda’s top political and military figures has launched an internal probe with immediate effect, according to the statement.
The Command has also reached out to Mr. Agaba asking to be connected to the victim referenced in his allegations in order to verify and gather critical evidence.
“We also call upon the general public and any other persons that could help avail further details,” the statement urged.
This rare appeal to the public for assistance signals a notable shift in tone from Uganda’s security circles which have typically shunned transparency in such matters.
The Special Forces Command (SFC) is no ordinary military unit. It serves under the Commander-in-Chief President Yoweri Museveni and is tasked with protecting Uganda’s most critical national assets including the presidency, oil infrastructure and key installations.
Historically, the SFC has been criticized by opposition figures and human rights organizations for alleged abuses during protests, arrests and crackdowns.
Allegations such as Agaba’s therefore, strike at the heart of Uganda’s democratic and human rights debates.
“This is a welcome step,” said Sarah Kiyonga, a Kampala-based legal rights advocate. “But Ugandans have heard this before. We will only believe in accountability when we see names, prosecutions and reforms not just statements.”
Others view the State House communication as a sign of internal pressure over rising public dissent especially in the aftermath of recent controversial detentions and reports of enforced disappearances.
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