By Joseph Kiggundu
KAMPALA. The powerful First Son and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has ordered the release of former military intelligence chief Maj Gen James Birungi, who has been detained since August 2025.
Gen Muhoozi, who is destined to succeed his aging father Yoweri Museveni, 82 as President cited forgiveness despite describing the officer’s alleged actions as serious crimes.
Posting on his official X account, Gen Muhoozi ,said his Christian faith had influenced his decision to pardon the former head of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), now known as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS).
“Maj Gen Birungi committed great crimes against our army and people. He should rightly have faced a very severe sentence,” Gen Muhoozi posted.
He added: “However, I believe in Jesus Christ who always teaches forgiveness. Christ forgave me, who am I not to forgive myself. I have forgiven him. We will release him soon.”
The pronouncement comes barely two weeks after former government informers Hamza Lyavaala and Adiil Walusansa pleaded guilty to two counts of murder linked to a staged suicide-bombing scheme that killed two women in 2025.
The two were subsequently turned into state witnesses against their alleged co-conspirator, Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga.
It remains unclear what Gen Muhoozi’s directive means for Maj Gen Birungi’s case before the General Court Martial and whether the release will affect the charges against him.
Maj Gen Birungi was charged with treachery, murder and other security-related offences before the General Court Martial in Makindye.
He has been held at the Makindye Military Police Detention Centre since his arrest in August 2025.
The charges are linked to investigations into allegations that fabricated intelligence reports about purported terrorist threats, including simulated suicide-bomb incidents, were used to obtain operational funds.
The incidents under investigation include the fatal shooting of a woman travelling on a motorcycle near Kalerwe Market and the death of another woman near Kagwa Bridge, close to the Munyonyo Catholic Shrine, during the 2025 Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations.
Witness alleges pressure to implicate Birungi
The announcement follows testimony at the General Court Martial that raised questions about how investigators handled the case.
During cross-examination by defence lawyer Frank Kanduho, state witness Hamza Lyavaala testified that CMI interrogator Brig Gen Abdul Rugumayo pressured him to implicate Maj Gen Birungi in an alleged murder plot and fraudulent operations.
Lyavaala told the court that Brig Gen Rugumayo tore up his initial statement because it did not implicate Maj Gen Birungi. He further alleged that the interrogator wanted him to claim that Maj Gen Birungi had provided Shs10 million to finance fake bombing operations after handing over office to Maj Gen Richard Otto.
Lyavaala maintained that he refused to make the allegations, despite what he described as pressure and physical abuse during a three-day interrogation.
The prosecution alleges that Lt Col Byaruhanga masterminded the simulated suicide missions involving Sumayiya Bruninga and Azatu Sawiya ahead of the 2025 Martyrs’ Day celebrations to secure operational funding.
Lyavaala and Walusansa pleaded guilty to murder charges arising from the Kalerwe and Munyonyo incidents before being turned into state witnesses against Lt Col Byaruhanga.
Gen Muhoozi’s statement also comes after proceedings on Maj Gen Birungi’s bail application were adjourned on October 5, 2026.
The General Court Martial, chaired by Brig Gen Richard Tukacungurwa, extended his remand to October 12 after state prosecutor Lt Regina Nanzaala told the court that the prosecution was not ready to respond to the application because the officer expected to swear an opposing affidavit was out of the country.
Maj Gen Birungi has denied wrongdoing in the case, according to the account of the proceedings.
Gen Muhoozi’s announcement did not specify when the officer would be released or explain how the directive would be implemented alongside the court proceedings.
Maj Gen Birungi, whose wife Doreen Katushabe Birungi is currently Lyantonde District Woman MP, previously commanded the Special Forces Command [SFC] and led the UPDF Mountain Division in operations against the militant Allied Democratic Forces along the border with DR Congo.