By KT Reporter
Maj Gen James Birungi, the former commander of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), now known as Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), was interrogated for over seven hours on Friday by a probe team appointed by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in connection with alleged Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terror plots in Kampala.
The investigation was prompted by a series of incidents earlier this year in which two women were killed in Kampala under suspicious circumstances. One woman was shot in Munyonyo on June 3, 2025, during Martyrs’ Day celebrations, while the other was killed at Kaleerwe Market in July this year. Authorities reportedly fear that some CMI commanders had been infiltrated by ADF operatives, who allegedly plotted fake terror alarms to cause panic in the capital.
The probe initially focused on Col Peter Ahimbisibwe, former Director of Counterterrorism at CMI/DIS, and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga, former Director of Special Operations at DIS. Both officers remain in custody at Makindye Military Barracks, awaiting the reconstitution of the General Court Martial, following its reinstatement after a January Supreme Court ruling had temporarily invalidated it.
During separate interrogations, Col Ahimbisibwe and Lt Col Byaruhanga reportedly implicated Maj Gen Birungi in the terror alerts. However, sources indicate that these claims could not yet be substantiated. The UPDF Defence Public Information Office (DPIO) has not provided further details beyond confirming the existence of the probe.
Maj Gen Birungi was summoned from his Hoima Road farm and arrived at DIS headquarters in Mbuya shortly before 11 a.m. He spent over seven hours under questioning before being transferred to Makindye Military Barracks, where he joined Col Ahimbisibwe and Lt Col Byaruhanga around 8 p.m., escorted by Special Forces Command (SFC) personnel.
Maj Jimmy Omara, SFC spokesperson, said he was not aware of Maj Gen Birungi’s arrest but promised to provide information if it becomes available. Meanwhile, Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, Director of DPIO, urged the public to allow military institutions to conduct their investigations without interference.
The probe has also affected Maj Gen Birungi’s recent assignments. He did not travel to Burundi to assume his post as Defence Attaché, two months after being appointed commander of the Mountain Division in Fort Portal, overseeing Shujaa operations against the ADF in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The ongoing investigation underscores the UPDF’s commitment to ensuring internal security and addressing potential threats from terrorist elements infiltrating its ranks, even at the highest levels of military intelligence.
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