By Derick Omoding
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has acknowledged the Mukura Massacre of July 11, 1989, describing it as a tragic accident that occurred during the National Resistance Army’s (NRA) struggle to restore peace and stability in Uganda.
Addressing thousands of supporters during a campaign rally at Bishop Kitching College Grounds in Ngora District on Tuesday, President Museveni reflected on the painful episode that left dozens of civilians dead in what is now one of the darkest chapters of Uganda’s post-war history.
“In those days, the situation was very difficult. There were many rebel groups hiding among the population in this region,” Museveni said. “I had a detour here in Ngora as we fought Alice Lakwena’s forces. Unfortunately, during that struggle, an accident occurred in Mukura. It was not intentional, but part of the confusion that comes with war.”
The Mukura Massacre occurred when soldiers of the NRA’s 106th Battalion allegedly rounded up about 300 men from Mukura and neighboring areas, accusing them of collaborating with rebel groups. The captives were locked inside a train wagon, identified as C521083, under extreme heat. By the time the wagon was opened, 69 men had suffocated to death, and only 47 survived.
Survivor testimonies later revealed that many of those detained were innocent civilians caught in the chaos of counter-insurgency operations. The Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP) documented these accounts in a 2011 report, calling for justice, compensation, and memorialization of the victims.
Following the tragedy, the government constructed the Mukura Memorial Mass Grave and later supported the establishment of Mukura Memorial Senior Secondary School in 2001 to honor those who lost their lives. President Museveni also pledged compensation for affected families, and a military court martial was convened in Mbale to investigate the perpetrators, though its findings were never made public.
In 2010, the government revived the compensation process with an allocation of UGX 200 million, which the President delivered personally during a visit to Mukura. The funds were used to renovate the memorial site and complete an adjoining library, though survivors later expressed concerns about limited consultation and delayed justice.
At Tuesday’s rally, local leaders from Ngora District renewed calls for the government to fulfill its earlier promises. Ngora District LC5 Chairperson, Mike Odongo, said the victims of the Mukura Massacre remain hopeful that the President will deliver full compensation to their families.
“The issue of the Mukura Massacre is clearly captured in the Memorandum of Understanding we presented to the President,” Odongo told journalists. “The victims still believe in government and continue to wait for justice. We pray that the President considers their compensation once and for all.”
The Mukura Massacre remains a painful reminder of Uganda’s turbulent journey to peace. As the President continues his campaign trail across Teso, survivors and families of the victims say they hope this renewed acknowledgment will finally lead to closure, accountability, and lasting reconciliation.