KAMPALA — Former Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI) James Birungi and two senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers appeared before the General Court Martial in Makindye on Monday to face a string of serious charges, including treason, terrorism, corruption and murder, in a case stemming from an internal military investigation into alleged intelligence and financial misconduct.
The other accused are Peter Ahimbisibwe, formerly Director of Counter-Terrorism, and Ephraim Byaruhanga, the former Director of Special Operations.
The three officers have been in military detention since August 2025 following investigations into alleged misconduct within UPDF intelligence operations.
According to accounts circulating from the court proceedings and individuals following the case, the prosecution alleges that the officers fabricated intelligence reports, falsified terror alerts, misused military resources and were involved in financial irregularities uncovered during a high-level investigation reportedly led by Sam Okiding.
Among the allegations is that the officers falsely confirmed in 2023 that suspected Allied Democratic Forces bomb-maker Meddie Nkalubo had been killed in a UPDF airstrike, when investigators later established he was still alive and operational.
The investigation is also said to have uncovered alleged misappropriation of military funds and other financial irregularities linked to intelligence operations.
The proceedings have attracted significant public attention because Birungi, Ahimbisibwe and Byaruhanga have previously been linked to the investigation surrounding opposition politician Kizza Besigye.
According to court documents previously filed before the High Court’s Criminal Division, Ahimbisibwe and Byaruhanga are among respondents named in an application filed by Besigye and his co-applicant Obeid Lutale challenging their alleged abduction from Nairobi in November 2024 and subsequent detention.
The application also names Muhoozi Kainerugaba and seeks declarations that the applicants’ constitutional rights were violated through unlawful arrest, detention, denial of access to lawyers and family members, and alleged abuse of military processes.
Meanwhile, the court proceedings were briefly overshadowed by reports that two journalists covering the case were detained at the General Court Martial.
Reports shared by journalists on X indicated that Judith Kukunda of Uganda Radio Network (URN) and journalist Margaret Zalwango were stopped by military personnel over allegations of accessing the court premises without the required clearance. Their mobile phones, cameras and other equipment were reportedly confiscated before they were later released. The circumstances surrounding the incident had not been officially explained by military authorities by press time.
The UPDF had also not issued a detailed public statement outlining the specific charges against the three officers or commenting on the reported detention of the journalists.
The General Court Martial has in recent years handled several high-profile military prosecutions involving senior serving and retired officers. However, proceedings before military courts remain the subject of legal and constitutional debate, particularly in cases involving civilians. Earlier this year, Supreme Court of Uganda delivered a landmark ruling restricting the trial of civilians in military courts, while affirming the jurisdiction of court martial proceedings over members of the armed forces.
The case against Birungi, Ahimbisibwe and Byaruhanga is expected to continue before the General Court Martial as prosecutors present evidence relating to the alleged intelligence, financial and operational misconduct.