The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has denied claims that it withdrew royal guards from the Karuziika Palace or placed the Tooro royal family under lockdown or house arrest.
The clarification follows a public statement issued by the Queen Mother of Tooro, Her Majesty Best Kemigisa, alleging that royal guards were removed on military orders and that family members were being restricted from receiving mourners.
In an official statement released by Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, the army dismissed reports of unlawful detention or interference in the kingdom’s internal affairs.
Col. Magezi emphasized that the UPDF is strictly non-partisan and has no role or involvement in the ongoing succession processes in the Tooro Kingdom.
He explained that heightened military presence around Karuziika Palace was prompted by the large number of mourners attending state funeral events, combined with the region’s geographical proximity to cross-border security threats originating from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Rather than disarming the palace, the UPDF leadership reinforced the traditional Royal Guards with extra protective personnel and introduced strict access-control protocols, including standard security screenings, to protect attendees.
Col. Magezi also noted that the Commander Land Forces (CLF), Lt. Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, visited the palace to pay his respects to the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and inspect ongoing engineering works.
Lt. Gen. Muhanga assessed rehabilitation projects managed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade, including access roads and maintenance at the Karambi Royal Tombs, expressing confidence that infrastructure preparations will be fully completed ahead of the royal burial.
The military leadership extended condolences to Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, the royal family, the people of Tooro, and the country at large over the demise of the monarch.
The UPDF reiterated that, alongside sister security agencies, it will maintain an active security presence to guarantee peace, order, and public safety throughout the mourning and funeral period.
