Jailed general sureties fail to appear in court
CAPTION: Maj Gen James Mugabe Birungi in the dock at the General Court Martial in Makindye on Monday 21st, 2026. (Courtesy Photo).
By Our Reporter
KAMPALA – The General Court Martial has remanded Maj Gen James Mugabe Birungi until September 24, 2026 after the two-star general’s sureties failed to show up in court to stand for him on bail.
Maj Gen Birungi was on Monday 21st, 2026 remanded to the Makindye Military Police barracks detention facility until Thursday, September 24, 2026, for the continuation of his bail application hearing.
Maj Gen Birungi who has been appearing before the military court, is facing charges before the General Court Martial, the UPDF’s highest military judicial body mandated to handle capital and disciplinary cases involving senior officers and other persons subject to military law.
In a related development, the same court charged two civilians, Nsubuga Benjamin and Asiimwe Benson, with unlawful wearing of army uniform and illegal possession of a firearm.
The suspects were found guilty on their own plea and sentenced to two years imprisonment.
They will serve their sentences at Kitalya and Gulu prisons respectively.
Brig Gen Tukachungurwa, also presided over the case of one Ochan Robert Othieno, who is facing charges of unlawful possession of military clothing. Othieno was remanded to the Makindye detention centre until September 28, 2026.Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba had earlier removed Birungi from his position as commander of the Mountain Infantry Division, barely two months after his appointment.
Birungi had been transferred from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) on April 16, 2025, in a reshuffle that saw him swap positions with Maj Gen Richard Otto, who took over as head of CMI.
He was later arrested in August 2025. According to sources, he was accused of allegedly providing false intelligence reports relating to counterfeit fuel and suspected suicide bombers in order to facilitate the fraudulent acquisition of government funds. Those allegations remained untested in court until his arraignment on Monday.
Notably, Birungi is among the individuals listed as state witnesses in the treason case against Dr Kizza Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya and Capt Denis Oola, who are accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
His prosecution on treachery charges means that he now faces allegations carrying similarly severe penalties, including the death sentence upon conviction.
