Court Martial Sentences Two to Death Over Staged Suicide Bombings

What the report says

The General Court Martial in Makindye has sentenced Hamza Lyavala and Hamid Walusansa to death after they pleaded guilty to murder linked to staged suicide bombing operations in Munyonyo and Kalerwe Market. According to Nile Post, the two men were described as state informers and were convicted over their roles in incidents that killed two people ahead of the June 2025 Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations.

The court heard that the pair delivered explosives to two victims who were then used in the staged attacks. Prosecutors said the operations were planned before the Martyrs Day events, which are among the country’s major annual religious commemorations. The court chair, Brig. Richard Tukacungurwa, said the offences were among the rarest of the rare and warranted the death penalty as a deterrent.

In his ruling, Tukacungurwa said the men had intentionally taken part in the fake suicide missions and had gone on to accept involvement in a second operation after the first. He then formally sentenced both to death for the two murder offences. The court also informed them that they have a right to appeal. In general, military courts in Uganda handle some cases involving security-related offences, but the specific facts in this case were based on the admissions and findings reported by Nile Post.