By Joseph Kiggundu
The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the release of Brig Gen Johnson Abaho Namanya from detention five days after the arrest.
In a post on micro-blogging site X today, Chris Magezi, the acting director of defence public information, said the release followed a truce meeting.
“The Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has today released Brig Gen Johnson Namanya from detention after an amicable and friendly meeting in which the latter was cleared of all allegations leveled against him. Brig Gen Namanya will resume his military duties accordingly,” he said.
Last Thursday, Gen Muhoozi ordered the arrest of Maj Gen Don William Nabasa and Brig Namanya over alleged corruption-related offences.
The Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has today released Brig Gen Johnson Namanya from detention after an amicable and friendly meeting in which the latter was cleared of all allegations leveled against… pic.twitter.com/aFrH8P2lYP
— Chris Magezi (@ChrisOMagezi) March 31, 2026
The message of arrest was reportedly addressed to, and implemented by, the Chief Inspector of the Armed Forces, who doubles as Deputy CDF, Lt Gen Sam Okiding.
Gen Okiding is reported to have swung into action immediately and got the officers in custody at Mbuya on Thursday where they spent the night.
According to sources privy to the arrests, the two senior officers were detained at the Special Forces Command (SFC) Kasenyi detention facility on Entebbe Road where they were transferred to on Friday.
Prior to their arrests, Nabasa had been serving as the Joint Staff for Policy and Strategy, while Namanya had recently been recalled by Gen Muhoozi from the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where he had been the Commissioner for Citizenship and Passport Management.
Sources further intimated that, in addition to the duo, Gen Muhoozi has sacked the Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Brig Abdul Rugumayo.
Reports indicate that he has since been replaced with Brig Gen Oscar Munanura, who has been serving as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security in charge of Counter-Intelligence.
Brig Rugumayo has been sent to the Defence Headquarters in Mbuya for redeployment.
Since taking office as the CDF, Gen Muhoozi has overseen a number of changes in the force, which, according to insiders, are meant to ensure internal accountability measures within the military hierarchy.
