Former Military Intelligence Boss Maj Gen Birungi Detained in Kampala

Kampala – Security sources have confirmed the arrest of former Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI), Maj Gen James Birungi, in a development that has sent shockwaves through the military and political establishment.

Maj Gen Birungi was picked up quietly on Friday evening and is currently being held at the Makindye Military Barracks, a facility often used for detaining senior officers under investigation.

The reasons for his arrest remain unclear, with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) yet to issue an official statement.

Birungi, a career officer who previously commanded the Special Forces Command (SFC) before his appointment as CMI boss, is widely regarded as one of the regime’s trusted operatives. His sudden fall from grace raises fresh questions about divisions within the security architecture and the shifting balance of power among Uganda’s military elites.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the arrest could be linked to internal investigations over sensitive operations during his tenure at CMI including corruption, Intelligence manipulation and misinformation.

At Makindye Barracks, sources say Maj Gen Birungi is being kept under tight guard as investigators prepare to interrogate him. His family has reportedly been denied access, fueling speculation about the seriousness of the case.

This is not the first time a high-ranking officer has faced detention at Makindye. In recent years, several senior UPDF figures have been held there, usually on allegations ranging from misconduct, abuse of office, to security breaches.

For now, silence looms over the matter. Neither the Ministry of Defence nor the UPDF Spokesperson has provided clarity, leaving the public and observers to speculate about what could be one of the most significant arrests in the military since Gen Kale Kayihura’s detention in 2018.

Maj Gen Birungi’s arrest marks another dramatic turn in Uganda’s ever-evolving security narrative one where loyalty, secrecy, and power struggles collide in unpredictable ways.