The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has taken bold action in his ongoing fight against corruption in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). On Monday, Gen Kainerugaba announced that he had ordered the arrest of Brigadier General Cyrus Besigye Bekunda, the Joint Staff Chief of Engineering, along with other officers from the Engineers Brigade. These arrests come after serious accusations of corruption and financial mismanagement within the military’s engineering department.
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Gen Kainerugaba expressed strong disappointment in the officers, stating:
“Yesterday, I ordered the arrest of Brig Bekunda Besigye and other officers of the Engineers Brigade. They poisoned, contaminated, and desecrated a sacred principle we have always embraced as UPDF—that we can be self-sufficient and efficient. They received money and misused it! Let their punishment serve as a lesson to others.”
This dramatic move is part of the CDF’s clear and aggressive campaign to clean up the army from within. Gen Kainerugaba has consistently warned that corruption will not be tolerated in the UPDF. Earlier this year, in February 2024, he spoke strongly against corrupt practices at the College of Logistics and Engineering (COLE) in Magamaga, Jinja. Speaking during a retreat focused on logistics and inventory management, he reminded officers that misuse of resources directly affects the army’s ability to protect the country and care for its soldiers.
“Any individual or group with selfish interests—whether corruption, misappropriation of resources, or mismanagement of any kind—must reform immediately or leave our cherished UPDF before they are exposed,” he warned at the time.
The arrest of Brig Gen Bekunda sends a loud and clear message: No one is above the law, not even high-ranking officials. Gen Kainerugaba’s actions reflect a serious effort to protect the integrity of the army and restore public trust. By holding corrupt officers accountable, he hopes to inspire discipline, honesty, and responsibility across all ranks of the UPDF.
This latest development reinforces the UPDF’s commitment to professionalism and transparency. As the anti-corruption crackdown continues, many are watching to see who else may be called to answer for misconduct—and whether Gen Kainerugaba’s tough stance will lead to lasting change.
