KAMPALA. Uganda’s military attaché to Burundi Maj Gen James Birungi is in hot soup following alleged litany of security breaches, this publication has established .
Military sources intimated to this publication Maj Gen Birungi, Uganda’s former Chief of Military Intelligence, was on Friday morning summoned to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya, where he appeared before Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Sam Okiding.
After a closed-door meeting, Maj Gen Birungi was reportedly disarmed and transferred in another military vehicle to the Military Police headquarters in Makindye, where he is currently being held.
According to multiple military sources Maj Gen. Birungis arrest follows findings from an ongoing high-level board of inquiry chaired by Lt Gen Okiding.
The inquest was tasked with investigating alleged breaches within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) intelligence and counterterrorism operations.
He is set to face trial before the General Court Martial on multiple charges, including treason, corruption, terrorism, murder, and other offences, sources in the army suggested.
The same sources added that the arrest stems from an internal audit investigation which expanded into a broader inquiry. It reportedly uncovered irregularities linked to intelligence manipulation and misuse of operational funds.
The UPDF was yet to release an official communication about the developments .
Background :
Maj Gen Birungi previously served as Chief of Military Intelligence before the unit was restructured and renamed Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS). His arrest marks the highest-profile detention of a serving army man in recent years.
Early this year, tensions heightened within the military establishment amid wider scrutiny of UPDF intelligence operations following the alleged fake Kampala bombings.
Besides, the developments are unfolding as Uganda prepares for a politically charged period ahead of the 2026 general election, with security agencies under increased domestic and international attention.