Maj Gen James Birungi Remanded on Treachery Charges as General Court Martial Hears High-Profile Military Case
KAMPALA, Uganda — The General Court Martial sitting at Makindye has remanded former Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) Director Maj Gen James Birungi on charges of treachery and offences relating to security, nearly a year after his arrest.
Birungi appeared before a military court panel chaired by Brig Gen Richard Tukacungurwa on Monday, where he was formally charged before being remanded to Makindye Military Barracks until August 3, 2026.
Birungi Appears Alongside Three UPDF Officers
The senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer was arraigned alongside three other military officers who, according to sources, face separate murder charges linked to the fatal shooting of suspected suicide bombers during previous security operations.
The incidents under investigation include the shooting of a woman riding on a motorcycle near Kalerwe Market and the killing of a male suspect near the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine in Munyonyo during the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations.
Authorities had not officially released the identities of the three co-accused by the time of publication, although one of them was identified only as Byaruhanga.
Tight Security as Media Barred from Proceedings
Security at the General Court Martial was heightened during the hearing, with journalists prevented from taking photographs or reporting from inside the courtroom.
Maj Alex Echeru, the officer in charge of the Makindye Military Barracks detention facility, led the security team that escorted Birungi to court and restricted media access throughout the proceedings.
The court subsequently remanded all the accused until the next hearing scheduled for August.
Arrest Followed Military Reshuffle
Birungi’s prosecution comes months after significant changes within the military leadership.
In April 2025, he was transferred from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), now known as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), during a UPDF reshuffle that saw Maj Gen Richard Otto appointed as the new intelligence chief.
Birungi was subsequently appointed commander of the Mountain Infantry Division, but Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba later relieved him of the position just two months after the appointment.
He was arrested in August 2025 and has remained in military custody ever since.
Allegations Relate to Intelligence Reports
According to information from security sources, investigators accuse Birungi of allegedly generating false intelligence reports concerning counterfeit fuel operations and suspected suicide bombers.
The reports allegedly facilitated the fraudulent release of government funds. Those allegations had not previously been tested in court until Monday’s formal arraignment.
The military prosecution has not yet presented detailed evidence in open court.
Witness in Besigye Treason Case
Birungi’s prosecution is particularly notable because he is also listed among the state’s intended witnesses in the ongoing treason case involving opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, and Capt. Denis Oola.
The trio face allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, charges they have denied.
With the latest charges, Birungi now faces accusations carrying some of the most serious penalties under military law. If convicted of treachery, he could face severe punishment, including the death sentence under applicable military legal provisions.
Investigations into the case remain ongoing, with the General Court Martial expected to resume proceedings on August 3, 2026.
