KAMPALA, Uganda — Two former chiefs of Uganda’s military intelligence have been arrested amid an ongoing security investigation involving recently retired senior officers, according to security sources.
The officers are retired Major General Abel Kandiho and retired Brigadier General Charles Bakahumura, both former heads of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), now known as Defence Intelligence and Security.
Gen Kandiho was arrested on Wednesday morning at his farm in Gomba District, central Uganda, according to multiple reports. Details surrounding Bakahumura’s arrest, including where he was detained, initially remained unclear.
Uganda’s state-owned New Vision reported that the two were arrested as part of ongoing investigations into alleged treachery and security-related offences. A military source cited by the newspaper said the investigations had been sanctioned by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The acting Director of Defence Public Information, Col Chris Magezi, however, said he was initially unaware of the arrests and indicated that the two had retired and were now civilians.
Arrests follow Gen Muhoozi’s warnings
The arrests come days after Gen Muhoozi publicly threatened to arrest retired generals following a farewell ceremony at State House, Entebbe.
President Yoweri Museveni presided over the August 20 retirement ceremony for 19 senior UPDF generals, including Kandiho and Bakahumura. The UPDF said the officers had completed their active military service after years in different command and leadership positions.
Videos from the ceremony showing some of the retiring officers dancing subsequently circulated widely on social media.
Muhoozi criticised the conduct and warned that some of the retired officers would face action.
On Tuesday, he appeared to indicate that security operations against the group had begun.
“We have captured one of the dancing Generals. Another one will be captured soon,” Muhoozi said in a post reported by local media.
He had earlier singled out Kandiho, saying one of the retired generals was at a farm in Gomba and suggesting he could attempt to flee to Rwanda.
“We shall capture him wherever he goes,” Gen Muhoozi said.
He also suggested that other retired officers could be sheltering at the residence of Gen Salim Saleh, President Museveni’s younger brother and a senior military figure.
What is behind the arrests?
While Muhoozi’s public statements have linked the operation to the so-called “dancing generals”, it remains unclear whether the arrests are solely connected to the retirement ceremony.
New Vision reported that the two are being investigated for alleged treachery and other security-related offences. The newspaper also reported that other current and former intelligence officers had been arrested in a wider investigation.
Among those reportedly arrested are former Defence Intelligence and Security chief Maj Gen James Birungi, Director of Counter-Terrorism Col Peter Ahimbisibwe and Director of Special Operations Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga.
New Vision reported that Birungi and Byaruhanga had been charged before a court martial with treachery and remanded to Makindye military police barracks.
The specific allegations against Kandiho and Bakahumura have not been publicly detailed.
Their arrests should therefore not be treated as evidence of guilt, and the precise offences under investigation remain to be established through the legal process.
Who are Kandiho and Bakahumura?
Kandiho is a veteran intelligence officer who rose through Uganda’s military intelligence structures before becoming one of the country’s most senior security officials.
He served as Chief of Military Intelligence before retiring from active service. His tenure placed him at the centre of Uganda’s military intelligence establishment.
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Bakahumura also held several senior positions in the UPDF.
He served as Chief of Military Intelligence from 2012 to 2017 before moving to the Chieftaincy of Logistics and Engineering, where he served for several years. He later served as Uganda’s defence attaché in Turkey.
Both officers were among the 19 generals whose retirement was formally announced at State House on August 20.
A wider shake-up
The arrests come against the backdrop of a broader tightening of discipline within Uganda’s military under Muhoozi, who has repeatedly spoken publicly about corruption, discipline and accountability within the UPDF.
The latest investigation has also reportedly drawn in serving and retired intelligence officers.
That has raised questions about whether the arrests represent a wider restructuring of Uganda’s security establishment rather than simply disciplinary action arising from the retirement ceremony.
For now, however, authorities have provided limited public information about the investigation.
The circumstances surrounding Bakahumura’s detention remain unclear, while the precise allegations against both former intelligence chiefs have yet to be publicly outlined.
The UPDF’s eventual explanation of the arrests, including any charges brought against the two men, is likely to determine the extent of the wider security operation.
