INTEL READS: Uganda's CDF Sacks Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence (via ChimpReports)
INTEL READS | Ujasusi Blog Originals
KAMPALA: Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has dismissed Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence Col Abdul Rugumayo and replaced him with Brig Gen Oscar Munanura in a fresh shake-up within the country’s powerful intelligence apparatus, military sources said.
The reasons for Rugumayo’s removal were not immediately disclosed, and the army had not issued an official statement by publication time.
Rugumayo, who has been serving as deputy to the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS), rose to the role in March 2022 following his appointment by President Yoweri Museveni.
At the time, he replaced Brig Gen Charles Asiimwe and pledged to bring administrative discipline and operational focus to the intelligence unit, citing his experience in military administration.
During his tenure, Rugumayo worked under successive intelligence chiefs, including Maj Gen James Birungi, in overseeing sensitive operations ranging from counterintelligence to regional security coordination.
His position placed him at the centre of Uganda’s military intelligence architecture, which plays a critical role in both domestic security and cross-border operations.
Rugumayo’s replacement, Brig Gen Oscar Munanura, is a senior intelligence officer currently serving as Assistant Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security in charge of Counter-Intelligence.
Munanura was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General in February 2025, marking a rapid rise within the UPDF’s intelligence ranks.
Munanura previously served as Deputy General Manager of Kyoga Dynamics, a subsidiary of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), where he was involved in defence-industrial operations and strategic logistics.
His dual experience in both intelligence and military-linked industrial management has positioned him as a key figure in Uganda’s evolving security architecture.
He has also participated in high-level regional security engagements, including contacts linked to armed groups such as CODECO in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, reflecting his role in sensitive cross-border intelligence and peace-related efforts.
The latest changes come amid a broader restructuring of Uganda’s military intelligence leadership.
Last year, President Museveni, appointed Maj Gen Richard Otto as the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, replacing Maj Gen James Birungi, who was redeployed to command the Mountain Infantry Division before being arrested by the army.