@mordecaimuriisa: Lt. Herbert Mabonga Matanda is opening another front in his exposé of alleged rot within the UPDF, this time turning his attention to foreign-funded military missions, particularly Uganda’s deployment in Somalia under AMISOM. Mabonga, who says he personally served in Somalia under AMISOM, alleges that money intended to pay Ugandan soldiers is sometimes withheld by senior officers coordinating with officials in Kampala. According to him, the money is placed in fixed bank accounts to generate profits while soldiers are reportedly told that the United Nations has not yet released their payments. If these allegations are substantiated, they raise serious questions about financial accountability, the welfare of Ugandan troops serving abroad, and who benefits from money meant for the men and women risking their lives on the front lines. But Mabonga’s criticism does not end with the alleged financial misconduct. He also questions the moral authority of the UPDF’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, over allegations of torture and the treatment of Ugandan citizens. Mabonga asks how a military leader who, in his view, has been supported by the Ugandan taxpayer throughout his life can preside over a force accused of torturing the very citizens whose taxes sustain it. He argues that Ugandans deserve accountability, not abuse, from the institutions entrusted with protecting them. Mabonga continues to insist that he has left the army, whether formally or informally. Now, he says, he is prepared to speak about what he witnessed and what he believes the public has been kept from knowing. So, what really happens behind the scenes during Uganda’s foreign military deployments? Who controls the money intended for soldiers? And what accountability exists when those entrusted with protecting citizens are themselves accused of abusing them? Here is my conversation with Lt. Herbert Mabonga Matanda.

Mordecai Muriisa

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Thursday 22 October 2026 09:30:00 GMT