By Eye Media Reporter | Kampala | Monday, July 6, 2026

Former Director of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), Maj Gen James Birungi, has been remanded to Makindye Military Barracks Prison after appearing before the General Court Martial on charges of treachery and offences relating to security.

Maj Gen Birungi was on Monday arraigned before the General Court Martial sitting at Makindye, chaired by Brig Gen Richard Tukacungurwa, nearly a year after his arrest in August 2025.

He appeared in court alongside three other Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers, who are reportedly facing separate murder charges linked to the fatal shooting of suspected suicide bombers during security operations near Kalerwe Market and Munyonyo Catholic Shrine. By the time of publication, military authorities had not officially released the identities of all the co-accused, although one was identified as Byaruhanga.

The court remanded Birungi and his co-accused until August 3, 2026, when they are expected to return for further proceedings.

Heavy Security at Court

Security was tight at the General Court Martial, with journalists barred from taking photographs of the accused or reporting from inside the courtroom.

Maj Alex Echeru, the officer in charge of Makindye Military Barracks prison cells, led the escort team that brought Birungi to court and restricted media coverage of the proceedings.

How Birungi Landed in Trouble

Maj Gen Birungi’s legal troubles began after he was relieved of his duties as Commander of the Mountain Infantry Division by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, barely two months after his appointment.

He had earlier been transferred from the then Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), now known as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), in a military reshuffle on April 16, 2025, which saw him swap positions with Maj Gen Richard Otto.

In August 2025, Birungi was arrested following allegations that he had generated false intelligence reports regarding counterfeit fuel and suspected suicide bombers. Investigators alleged that the fabricated intelligence was used to facilitate the fraudulent release of government funds.

Those allegations had remained under investigation until Monday when the senior military officer was formally charged before the General Court Martial.

State Witness Turns Accused

Birungi’s prosecution comes as a surprise because he is among the individuals listed as state witnesses in the ongoing treason case against opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, and Capt Denis Oola, who are accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

His own prosecution on treachery charges now places him on the opposite side of the courtroom, facing accusations that carry some of the country’s most severe penalties, including the possibility of a death sentence if convicted.

The case is expected to attract significant public attention as proceedings resume before the General Court Martial on August 3, 2026.