KAMPALA, Uganda — Four senior officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have been remanded by the General Court Martial in Makindye over the alleged diversion of 270,000 litres of fuel earmarked for military operations.
The accused; Brig Gen James Barigye Ruheesi, Col David Ociti Kidega, Maj Innocent Kikongi Mugumya and Capt Kenneth Labwon Kinyera, appeared before a military panel chaired by Brig Richard Tukacungurwa. They face a charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to operational efficiency, contrary to Section 122(b) of the UPDF Act.
Prosecutors told the court that between July 2022 and December 2023, in Kampala and Jinja, the officers allegedly diverted approximately 270,000 litres of automotive gas oil intended for the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre for personal use.
All four denied the charges.
The prosecution, led by Col Raphael Mugisha, said investigations were at an advanced stage but requested additional time, asking the court to keep the accused in custody at the Makindye military police detention facility.
Defence lawyer Maj Simon Busagwa Nsubuga did not oppose the adjournment but urged the court to compel the state to disclose evidence to allow adequate preparation for trial.
The request was declined, with the court ruling that disclosure would be considered once investigations are complete.
The officers were remanded until May 29, 2026.
Arrest and wider probe
Brig Gen Ruheesi, identified by prosecutors as the principal suspect, was arrested in April 2025 on the orders of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces, and has remained in detention for nearly a year before his first court appearance.
At the time, Gen Muhoozi said in a post on X:
“I arrested a General who has been stealing fuel for about three years. There are more to follow.”
Investigators believe the alleged scheme centred on the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre in Jinja, a strategic military facility tasked with rapid response to emergencies.
Officials say the centre had been receiving significantly less fuel than allocated, raising concerns about its operational readiness.
The alleged diversion, estimated to involve fuel worth billions of Ugandan shillings, is suspected to have occurred over a sustained period, with quantities reportedly disappearing on a monthly basis.
Corruption concerns within security sector
The case emerges amid a broader anti-corruption drive within Uganda’s security agencies, where scrutiny of procurement systems and logistics chains has intensified in recent years.
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Military analysts say fuel supply is a critical component of operational capability, particularly for rapid deployment units that rely on mobility and timely response. Any disruption in supply chains can undermine readiness and national security response capacity.
Uganda has in recent years faced recurring corruption scandals across public institutions, prompting calls for stronger accountability mechanisms, particularly within high-expenditure sectors such as defence.
Authorities have indicated that additional investigations are ongoing, with the possibility of more arrests as the probe expands.
