news 27 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)

Remembering Yob Were: The Pioneer Who Built Uganda's Military Police and Defied Amin

At 82, retired Captain Yob Were reflects on his remarkable military career, including pioneering Uganda's Military Police and defying a direct order from Idi Amin to execute Acholi and Langi soldiers. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/yob-were-officer-who-built-uganda-s-military-police-defied-amin-s-kill-order-5648396

Nestled in Buchirayi Village, Busia District, retired Captain Yob Were remains remarkably sharp at 82 years old. As one of the foundational figures in Uganda’s security history, Were is best remembered for his pivotal role in building the nation’s Military Police from the ground up during the turbulent post-independence era.

Reflecting on his time in active service, the veteran military officer recounted a harrowing chapter under the regime of Field Marshal Idi Amin. According to Were, he faced the ultimate moral test when he was issued a direct command to execute all Acholi and Langi soldiers stationed within his barracks. Choosing his humanity over compliance, Were outright refused the deadly directive, a courageous act of defiance that risked his own life during a period characterized by widespread political terror and state-sanctioned purges.

Throughout his life, Were has retained vivid memories of the dramatic military events that shaped modern Uganda, from early institutional developments to historic coup attempts that shook the government. Today, the retired captain lives quietly away from the capital, preserving a legacy defined by professional discipline and moral courage during some of the darkest days of Uganda’s military history.