Police, army officers assault ex-police boss Ndungutse in NRM elections

Security agencies have launched investigations into an incident in which retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) John Ngayure Ruhindi Ndungutse was allegedly assaulted by a group of police officers and Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers at the gate of the tally centre in Kanungu district.
Ndungutse had contested in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries for the Kinkiizi West County parliamentary seat but lost to the incumbent member of parliament, James Ruugi Kaberuka. The alleged assault occurred on the morning of July 18, 2025, around 11:10 a.m., shortly before the official declaration of Kaberuka’s victory.
According to eyewitness accounts, Ndungutse arrived at the Kanungu district headquarters, where vote tallying was still underway. Security personnel manning the main gate reportedly ordered him and his escort to step out of their vehicle.
While the retired police chief complied and began to explain his presence, a confrontation is said to have erupted when a UPDF soldier, identified as Lt. Patrick Zirimo, approached and challenged him.
Witnesses say that when Ndungutse resisted further demands, additional officers joined in, escalating the situation. During the altercation, Zirimo allegedly grabbed Ndungutse by the neck, punched him on the right cheek, kicked him in the lower abdomen, and damaged his rosary, which the former officer claims was worth €150 (about Shs 620,000).
Maj Kiconco Tabaro, spokesperson for the UPDF 2nd Division, confirmed that the matter is under active investigation. “Investigations are ongoing, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings,” he said.
The case has been formally registered at Kanungu Police Station under CRB 440/2025. As of now, no arrests have been made, but calls for accountability are growing amid heightened scrutiny of the role of security forces in the electoral process.