Remembering Major Ssesanga: A Deadly LRA Ambush in 2002

July 6th, 2002, marks a somber anniversary in Uganda’s history as it was the day Major Issa Ssesanga of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) tragically lost his life. Major Ssesanga was traveling in a military Land Rover, following a UPDF patrol truck, when their convoy was ambushed by a significant force of approximately 60 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.

The coordinated attack took place along the Kitgum–Lira road, near Porogali in Pader District. Major Ssesanga and one of his escorts, identified as Opoka, were killed instantly. Three other soldiers sustained severe injuries during the brutal encounter. Fortunately, reinforcements arrived swiftly, managing to evacuate the wounded to a nearby health facility in Pajule.

This ambush occurred just months after the UPDF had initiated ‘Operation Iron Fist,’ a large-scale military operation intended to neutralize LRA bases in southern Sudan. Ironically, instead of weakening the insurgency, the operation seemed to embolden the LRA, leading to a surge in rebel activities within northern Uganda. The rebels increasingly targeted military convoys, vital road networks, and camps housing internally displaced persons.

The death of Major Ssesanga was a significant loss for the UPDF, highlighting the rebels’ continued capacity for intelligence gathering and their ability to execute sophisticated attacks, even against senior military personnel. This incident was compounded by the fact that another UPDF officer, Major Geoffrey Ssegawa, was killed in a separate ambush only a week later, fueling concerns about the LRA regaining momentum despite the ongoing military offensive.

The Porogali ambush severely disrupted both military and civilian movement throughout northern Uganda. In response to the heightened insecurity, the UPDF temporarily halted road transportation along crucial routes connecting Kitgum, Pader, and Lira, while intensifying security operations. For the remainder of 2002, the stretch of road near Porogali remained one of the most perilous ambush sites during the LRA insurgency.

Source: Nile Post