A storm is sweeping through the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly known as the Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI), as a probe team instituted by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, widens its net.
At least 13 suspects, soldiers and civilians are now under arrest over the alleged orchestration of fake terror bomb attacks. Among those detained is Maj Gen James Birungi, former CMI chief, who was dramatically arrested on Friday and is currently being held at Makindye Military Police barracks.
His arrest comes after weeks of silent investigations into what sources describe as “concocted terror incidents” that shook the country in recent years.
The probe began with the detention of Col Peter Ahimbisibwe, then director of counterterrorism at CMI, and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga, who headed Special Operations. By the time Birungi was picked up, 10 more suspects had already been rounded up, eight soldiers and two civilians.
Among them are three soldiers linked to the June 3rd Martyrs Day ‘bomb’ scare near Munyonyo Catholic Shrine, where a woman, allegedly a suicide bomber, was killed. Weeks later, another supposed female bomber was gunned down in Kaleerwe market, her ‘explosive device’ detonated by operatives.
The Kaleerwe episode, insiders say, triggered the arrest of at least five junior soldiers. As investigators interrogated the detained officers, the name of Maj Gen Birungi repeatedly surfaced.
Both Ahimbisibwe and Byaruhanga are said to have implicated their former boss, suggesting that he not only sanctioned suspicious operations but also directed junior officers to link the so-called bomb threats to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The probe gained momentum after Birungi was reassigned earlier this year to the Mountain Division in Fort Portal, ostensibly to oversee Operation Shujaa against ADF in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
His posting, however, appears to have been a tactical move by CDF Muhoozi to clear the ground for investigators. It was intelligence officers in the Mountain Division, then under Maj Gen Richard Otto, who reportedly blew the whistle. Reviewing border surveillance measures, Otto’s team found no traces of ADF infiltration.
They questioned how CMI in Kampala had obtained intelligence that led to the killing of the two women labelled as suicide bombers. This revelation reportedly set off alarm bells at Mbuya, prompting Muhoozi to demand answers.
The findings, combined with fresh intelligence irregularities unearthed by Maj Gen Otto after assuming command at CMI, put Birungi and his close deputies on the chopping block. To keep him away from sensitive operations while the probe continued, Birungi was quietly named Uganda’s Defence Attaché to Burundi, a move sources now say was “for public relations.”
On Thursday evening, he was summoned to CMI headquarters in Mbuya. By Friday midday, he had been disarmed, interrogated for over seven hours, and later driven to Makindye barracks under tight security. Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, UPDF spokesperson, confirmed Birungi’s detention but declined to divulge details.
“Yes, he is in custody,” Kulayigye said, without clarifying whether Birungi would face the General Court Martial like his deputies or be released on military bond. The CDF probe team is reportedly digging deeper, tracing questionable bomb incidents as far back as three years.
These include abandoned devices discovered at pastor Robert Kayanja’s church, bombs left in Nateete, and other scattered threats across Kampala. At least three terror cells allegedly linked to CMI operatives are now under scrutiny, raising fresh questions about whether some of Uganda’s most publicised terror scares were staged.
It has been apparent since the days of General Kayihura that many of the bombings in Kampala had the hallmarks of inside jobs, including the most devastating one in Lugogo. The same pattern applies to the assassinations of Muslim clerics, Kaweesi, and Kirumira, all hastily attributed to the ADF without credible evidence. Today, with the reach of social media, it has become much harder to mislead the public with such staged narratives. These red-flag operations have been part of the NRM’s playbook since its bush war days, and I doubt they will ever be completely abandoned so long as they serve a political purpose
Robert Mawanda you have a point. These red-flag operations have been part of the NRM’s playbook since its bush war days, and I doubt they will ever be completely abandoned so long as they serve a political purpose. Indeed that is why the Uganda National opposition cannot claim national election victory ever since the NRM captured state power. One doubts very much if by formulating killing fields in the Luweero triangle the NRM was bring to this poor African country Pan African democracy where the opposition can take power peacefully! It is all about NRM kleptocracy where government is run by corrupt leaders who use political power to steal the wealth of the people and about NRM oligarchy where running national government is concentrated within a small number of people! The Kingdom state of Buganda must not be seen to abide with such a Uganda dictatorial central government by continously participating in fraudulent democratic national elections that are violent, that are full of Gerrymandering, and not free and fair!
Exactly! NRA/M(Notorious Robbers Army /Movement) Follows one Legacy! Death and Destruction Since the 80ties When They used To drive a Leyland Bus From Kololo Summit Around Kampala Abducting Young Men! They Must have Forced Them to Join Them or were Creating a Non Governable Scenario in Uganda!40 Years Down the Road Same Tactics have been Applied to Keep Ugandans on Gun Point and Fear of ever Defending themselves! The Devil Himself Boasts that They have Powers to do Evil! Namely senseless Killing that Saw 1.000.000 Million Baganda Loose their Lives and Property!..Now We know and We are in Waiting!! Mtapata kya Mtema Kuni..
A National Army dominated by one tribe/ethnic group in its command can’t save itself from such rottenness. I want to salute MK for unearthing this rot but I think something is entirely wrong in the whole setting of this institution
But Enos Franklin, there is nothing to salute about MK. He is worse than the ones he is pretending to investigate and arrest.
In other words, MK is just as rotten. Otherwise, what is the difference between Birungi’s terrorism and MK’s terrorism of abductions and torture of Eddy Mutwe and others whom he torture in his basement, in addition to forcefully teaching them Runyankor/le?
What is the difference between Birungi and Co. bearing false witness against ADF and MK and his father’s perennial bearing of false witness and causing the abduction of Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Haji Obed Kamulegeya and indefinite remand without trial?
In the final other words, the Ghost of subversion, organized murders, blame game and bearing false witness against innocent Ugandans for the last 39 years and counting; is finally catching up with the very perpetrators themselves.
No wonder, terrified of spilt beans, the 84-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa would rather die in our State House instead being humiliated and caged behind bars like Gen Al Bashir the Sudan and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.
E.g., who was behind the ‘Barlonyo Massacre’, which was blamed on the LRA?
This is because, some of the survivors indicated that: unlike the typical LRA, the perpetrators were dressed in complete brand new combat uniform.
The Barlonyo Massacre blamed on the LRA, was intended to further poison the relationship between the Acholi and Langi. Otherwise, how else can you divide and rule without such subversions and sabotage?
Where were some Ugandans in 2017, when Mr. M7 gloated that he is the AUTHOR and MASTER OF VIOLENCE? This was after sending the SFC into the Parliamentary Chamber and thrashed the opposition MPs who were objecting to the removal of AGE LIMIT from the 1995 Constitution.
In other words, before coming to power, on whom did Mr. M7 author, practice and mastered violence? Otherwise, you can’t MASTER something without PRACTICE!