In a bombshell revelation that has reignited one of Uganda’s most mysterious and controversial deaths, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces, has sensationally pointed fingers at a former top spy — suggesting betrayal may have played a deadly role in the 2007 death of Brigadier Noble Mayombo.
Brig Mayombo, once regarded as one of the brightest stars in Uganda’s military and political establishment, died suddenly in Nairobi under suspicious circumstances.
Officially, it was said to be acute pancreatitis. But rumors of foul play have swirled for years — and now Muhoozi’s latest claim has added fresh fuel to the fire.
In a post that has since gone viral, Muhoozi accused former External Security Organisation (ESO) boss David Pulkol of betraying Mayombo.
While he stopped short of explicitly stating Pulkol orchestrated the murder, the implication was clear — someone close, trusted, and powerful may have had a hand in the Brigadier’s downfall.
“There is a habitual traitor called PULKOL who dared to speak against me the other day. That betrayer of our late big brother Brig.Noble Mayombo will have nowhere to hide!” Muhoozi wrote on his X, sparking outrage, questions, and renewed calls for the classified investigation report on Mayombo’s death to be released to the public.
Mayombo, a rising star, was not only Museveni’s former aide-de-camp but also a key player in drafting Uganda’s 1995 Constitution.
He held high-level roles, including Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Chair of the Vision Group. His loyalty to the regime was unquestioned — which is exactly why his death raised so many eyebrows.
Back in 2007, the government formed a probe team to look into the mysterious illness that led to Mayombo’s death.
The findings were submitted to President Museveni but never made public, leaving a vacuum filled with conspiracy theories.
Now, with Muhoozi’s explosive accusation, that old wound has been ripped open — and the nation wants answers.
Who is David Pulkol
David Pulkol served two terms as Director General of the External Security Organisation (ESO), Uganda’s foreign intelligence agency.
First Term (1996–1998):
Pulkol was appointed Director General of ESO in 1996, after resigning from Parliament.
During this period, ESO was instrumental in intelligence coordination related to regional instability, particularly focusing on conflicts in the Great Lakes region (e.g., Congo, Sudan, Rwanda).
His tenure coincided with the Uganda People’s Defense Forces’ (UPDF) increased involvement in regional conflicts, which made ESO’s role particularly sensitive and strategic.
Second Term (2001–2003):
Pulkol returned to head ESO in 2001. This was a politically tense period, with Uganda dealing with rebel threats like the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and balancing its international image.
Reports from that time suggest internal power struggles within Uganda’s intelligence community, with Pulkol and others clashing with figures like then-ISO Director Gen. Henry Tumukunde.
Pulkol was eventually relieved of his post in 2003, amid speculation of political disagreements and security lapses.
Confidants say, Pulkol’s time at ESO was marked by his strategic role in foreign intelligence during a volatile regional security environment.
His leadership was both impactful and controversial due to the political nature of Uganda’s intelligence apparatus.
