Uganda: Witch-Hunt or War on Corruption? Arrest of Maj Gen Ruheesi Raises Alarming Questions about UPDF’s Integrity Crisis
Ujasusi Blog Team, April 2025
In an extraordinary and highly symbolic move that has triggered debate across Uganda and the wider East African security community, the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) has arrested one of its senior generals, Maj Gen James Ruheesi, on allegations of fuel theft. The arrest, ordered by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba—President Yoweri Museveni’s son and the current Chief of Defence Forces—has not only intensified the spotlight on rampant corruption within Uganda’s military ranks but also ignited a fierce discussion: is this a genuine crackdown on graft or a politically motivated witch-hunt?
The arrest was first disclosed by Gen Muhoozi himself via his X (formerly Twitter) account:
“Yesterday, I arrested a General who has been stealing fuel for about three years! There are more to follow.”
Although Muhoozi refrained from naming the individual publicly, reliable military sources later confirmed that the detained general is none other than Maj Gen James Ruheesi. He was reportedly taken into custody earlier in the week and is being held at the Makindye Military Barracks in Kampala. Alongside him, Col David Kidega has also been implicated in the same corruption investigation.
These dramatic developments have plunged the UPDF into yet another scandal, threatening the image of one of East Africa’s most operationally active and regionally influential militaries.
Fuel Theft Scandal: The Anatomy of a Military Heist
The Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Center (URDCC) is at the core of this unfolding scandal, located at Gaddafi Barracks in Jinja. Established as a specialised crisis-response unit capable of responding to emergencies within an hour, URDCC was designed to be the pride of Uganda’s defence innovation. Instead, it has become the epicentre of an alleged multimillion-shilling corruption racket.
The turning point came when Brig Gen Peter Omolla, fresh from a deployment in Somalia, was appointed to replace Brig Gen Ruheesi as head of URDCC. Upon assuming command, Omolla reportedly discovered irregularities in fuel allocations. Disturbed by what he saw, Omolla refused to participate in the long-standing scheme. According to insiders, that refusal made him a target for internal sabotage, even as he became the catalyst for the current investigation.
URDCC was officially allocated approximately 20,000 litres of petrol and 30,000 litres of diesel each month. However, only 10,000 litres of petrol and 15,000 litres of diesel consistently arrived at the base. The missing half—some 25,000 litres per month—was siphoned off elsewhere, according to the internal investigation.
Given the fuel prices in Uganda—Shs 5,000 per litre of petrol and Shs 4,800 for diesel—the monthly losses amounted to nearly Shs 100 million. Over the alleged three-year period, the cumulative financial damage could exceed Shs 3.5 billion. These are not petty thefts but grand-scale embezzlement operations that mirror sophisticated white-collar criminal networks.
Museveni’s Mandate: A Long-Awaited Reckoning?
This latest corruption saga should be seen in the context of long-standing accusations levelled by President Museveni himself. Speaking in 2023, he described the UPDF as being “burned under the weight of corruption.” He pointed fingers at senior officers involved in nepotism, mismanagement, and embezzlement of soldiers’ allowances, fuel, and food. It was then that he publicly mandated Gen Muhoozi to “crack the whip.”
With this context, the arrest of Maj Gen Ruheesi and the ongoing investigation appear to be the execution of Museveni’s marching orders. Yet, sceptics are not fully convinced.
Between Justice and Machination: Is This Truly About Corruption?
The optics of Gen Muhoozi publicly declaring the arrest of a general without naming them, while promising “more to follow,” has raised eyebrows. This cryptic approach, combined with the highly selective timing of these arrests, has led some to question whether this is truly about justice or internal military politics, perhaps even succession power plays within Uganda’s first-family-dominated security apparatus.
The fact that Brig Gen Omolla, a man of integrity who allegedly refused to join the theft ring, was witch-hunted before Gen Muhoozi stepped in has further complicated the narrative. Could this be an overdue reform finally taking shape, or is it merely a facade to mask deeper power realignments?
Moreover, critics point out that Uganda has witnessed several anti-corruption campaigns in the past, often starting with bold arrests but ending in quietly shelved investigations. If this case follows the same path, it will only deepen the perception that the so-called “war on corruption” is more about targeting rivals than cleaning up the system.
A Pattern of Institutional Decay?
The arrest of Maj Gen Ruheesi is not an isolated event. Recently, Col Peter Ssemakula, Chief of Communications and IT in the UPDF, was also arrested on allegations of accepting a bribe from a Namibian company named Satcom. The company was reportedly lobbying to supply the army with advanced Leopard 1 Wideband Software Defined Radios.
These arrests suggest a broader rot within the ranks of the UPDF, and possibly even within Uganda’s entire defence procurement system. From fuel to food to sophisticated military communication systems, the spectre of corruption looms large. The army’s internal oversight mechanisms appear either ineffective or complicit. If a crisis-response unit such as URDCC can lose half its fuel for years without detection, one must question the systemic oversight within the UPDF.
Strategic Consequences: What Lies Ahead?
Whether this is a genuine purge or an internal score-settling exercise, the implications are significant:
Regional Credibility: Uganda is a key contributor to African Union missions and regional peacekeeping. If the UPDF is plagued by corruption at senior levels, it could weaken confidence among regional allies and undermine mission effectiveness.
Domestic Military Morale: Junior officers and rank-and-file soldiers already face challenges like delayed salaries, inadequate food, and poor housing. News that senior officials are enriching themselves through fraud could fuel discontent within the ranks.
Succession Politics: Given Gen Muhoozi’s increasing political visibility and speculation around a possible presidential run, every major decision he takes is scrutinised through a political lens. His war on corruption could either bolster his image as a reformer or expose him to allegations of authoritarian micromanagement and vendettas.
Witch-Hunt or War on Corruption? A Nation Demands Clarity
Uganda now stands at a crossroads. The arrest of Maj Gen Ruheesi is a pivotal moment that could define the credibility of anti-corruption efforts under Gen Muhoozi’s command. But for that to happen, transparency must prevail, and the investigations must result in meaningful prosecutions, not quiet rehabilitations of the accused.
Ugandans are tired of performative justice. They need to see structural reforms, institutional integrity, and above all, genuine accountability at all levels of power. Otherwise, every new arrest will be seen not as a sign of progress, but as the latest chapter in a long-running playbook of elite power struggles disguised as reform.
Final Thought: Cleaning House or Settling Scores?
The answer to whether this is a witch-hunt or a sincere war on corruption lies not in Gen Muhoozi’s tweets, but in the outcomes that follow. Will this be the beginning of a systemic overhaul in UPDF’s procurement, accountability, and ethics mechanisms? Or will it fizzle out as yet another politically expedient move in Uganda’s ever-complex civil-military dynamics?
One thing is certain: the true fight for Uganda’s future will not be won in military barracks alone—but in the battle for institutional trust, transparency, and justice. And the world is watching.