Intelligence Brief: Uganda Arrests Former CMI Chief Maj Gen James Birungi
Ujasusi Blog’s East Africa Monitoring Team | 31 August 2025 | 0300 BST
Executive Summary
The arrest of Major General James Birungi, former Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI) of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), on August 29, 2025, represents an unprecedented development in Uganda's military and national security landscape. This historic detention—marking the first time a former CMI chief has been imprisoned—stems from a high-level board of inquiry that uncovered systematic failures, including fabricated intelligence, misappropriation of military resources, and operational manipulation within the UPDF's intelligence apparatus.
The arrest is part of a broader military purge orchestrated by Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, aimed at restoring discipline and integrity to Uganda's armed forces. The implications extend beyond internal military matters, affecting national security credibility, regional stability, and public trust in Uganda's security institutions.