Ngora Prisons warder, Lawrence Ampe, is set to face disciplinary action over allegations of posting political videos on social media in which he criticised senior officers and made partisan statements.
Ampe, who is believed to operate a TikTok account under the name @COP Ampe, reportedly published several videos attacking leaders of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), accusing them of mismanagement and self-enrichment. He also criticised fellow officers for what he described as fear-driven silence.
“Even my fellow officers who call me advising me to stop know that I speak the truth. When they lock themselves inside their rooms, they know this country is not moving on the right path,” Ampe appears to say in one of the widely shared clips.
He claimed many security officers were aware of injustices in the country but chose to remain quiet, while senior leaders “pretend to know more, yet are being used.”
The Uganda Prisons Service had earlier warned Ampe to desist from making political statements online. A statement issued on October 7, 2025, cautioned all officers against engaging in partisan activity.
Despite the warning, Ampe reportedly continued to upload videos expressing political opinions and singing songs associated with a political party. Uganda Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine said that Ampe has now been summoned to appear before the prisons disciplinary committee.
“He’s been releasing videos on social media and sometimes singing songs of certain political parties. His station office got evidence, made its verdict, and sent it to the head office. He’s been summoned to appear before the disciplinary committee,” Baine said.
Baine added that the charges of misconduct and indiscipline could result in dismissal, depending on the committee’s findings. Commissioner General of Prisons Dr Johnson Byabashaija previously warned officers that any act of indiscipline, especially during the political season, would be met with firm consequences.
Acts that could lead to dismissal include openly campaigning for political candidates, using social media to make partisan statements, attacking individuals at political rallies, or engaging the media without authorisation.
Ampe is not the only security officer under scrutiny. Police recently opened investigations into SSP Annabella Nyiramahoro, the deputy regional police commander for Masaka, after she was filmed campaigning for minister Haruna Kasolo at a rally, raising fresh concerns over partisan activity among uniformed personnel.
There is need to interest ourselves in the Ampe case. There have been numerous videos by people appearing uniformed making political statements, telling Ugandans when and what to vote for and some of them desperaging our leaders in the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Why we haven’t brought those others before disciplinary committees raises questions? Are we hounding Ampe because he is saying the same things others have said but from a wrong place?
The Ampe Warder of this country are easy targets for the Prison’s Disciplinary Committee to nail. But what is the UPDF Disciplinary Committee doing about the gross indiscipline and impunity of Gen Kainerugaba Muhoozi of this country?
In other words, in the circumstance that the country is in, playing safe is not the solution. To echo Prof. Mamdani’s clarion call that Mr. M7 is WORSE THAN AMIN (a slow poison); whether in the Armed forces or a civilian; it is hight time Ugandans woke up and said NO to Gen Tibuhabhurwa machination of a POLITICAL DYNASTY in Uganda.