Maj Gen James Birungi, the former commander of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), now Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), is under arrest after a marathon interrogation on Friday that lasted over seven hours. The questioning was led by a special probe team set up by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, following allegations that he is linked to ADF terror activities targeting Kampala.
The investigation follows a series of suspicious incidents earlier this year in which two women were murdered. One woman was shot in Munyonyo on June 3, 2025, during Martyrs’ Day celebrations, while another was killed in Kaleerwe Market in July. Security officials suspect that some CMI commanders may have been compromised by ADF operatives who allegedly engineered fake terror alerts to instill fear in the capital.
Initially, the probe focused on Col Peter Ahimbisibwe, former Director of Counterterrorism, and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga, former Director of Special Operations. Both are currently detained at Makindye Military Barracks awaiting trial before the General Court Martial, which had earlier been halted by a Supreme Court ruling before being reinstated.
During their interrogation, Col Ahimbisibwe and Lt Col Byaruhanga reportedly linked Maj Gen Birungi to the alleged terror plots. Though their claims are still being verified, the UPDF Defence Public Information Office (DPIO) confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
Maj Gen Birungi was summoned from his farm on Hoima Road and taken to DIS headquarters in Mbuya, arriving just before 11 a.m. He was grilled until evening before being transferred to Makindye Military Barracks around 8 p.m., where he joined the two officers already in custody under Special Forces Command (SFC) escort.
Maj Jimmy Omara, spokesperson for the SFC, said he was not yet aware of Birungi’s detention but promised to provide updates once available. On the other hand, Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, Director of DPIO, appealed to the public to let the military carry out its work and to rely only on official communication.
The arrest has also disrupted Birungi’s new deployments. He did not assume his recent appointment as Defence Attaché to Burundi, despite being named just two months ago as commander of the Mountain Division in Fort Portal, where he was overseeing Operation Shujaa against the ADF in eastern DRC.
This probe highlights UPDF’s determination to strengthen internal security and deal firmly with any potential infiltration, even among its top intelligence leadership.
