General Court Martial Grants Bail to Gen. James Barigye in UPDF Fuel Theft Case

MAKINDUYE, Uganda — The General Court Martial in Makindye on Tuesday granted bail to Brig. Gen. James Barigye Ruheesi, the former commandant of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability, who faces charges of diverting military fuel intended for operational use.

Ruheesi, 60, was released on a cash bail of 10 million shillings. Co-accused Maj. Innocent Kigongi Mugumya was also granted bail after posting a non-cash bond of 25 million shillings. The rulings were delivered by a panel chaired by Brig. Gen. Richard Tukacungurwa.

In granting bail, the court cited that theoffenses are bailable, the accused presented substantial sureties, and that Ruheesi had spent nearly a year in military detention before being formally charged. His sureties include former Chief of Citizenship and Immigration Control Maj. Gen. Apollo Kasita Gowa, retired Brig. Gen. Jeff Mukasa and a former United Nations employee.

As part of his bail conditions, Ruheesi must not travel outside Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts without the permission of the court. He is also required to report to the Court Martial Registrar once every month.

The court, however, deferred rulings on the separate bail applications filed by the other accused. Col. David Ociti Kidega and Capt. Kenneth Labwon Kinyera, who were remanded until their applications are determined.

The four officers are jointly charged with one count of personal interests endangering operational efficiency contrary to the UPDF Act. Prosecutors allege that between July 2022 and December 2023, while serving in Kampala and Jinja, the accused diverted approximately 270,000 litres of automotive gas oil (AGO) meant to operate heavy equipment under the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability for their personal benefit. All the accused denied the charges.

Ruheesi, the principal suspect, was arrested in April 2025 and remained in military detention for about a year before he was first produced before the Court Martial in April 2026. His arrest followed an announcement by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who disclosed on his X account that a senior officer had been arrested over alleged fuel theft.

According to information presented before the court, investigations began after intelligence reports indicated large-scale fuel theft at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre (URDCC) at Gaddafi Barracks in Jinja. The alleged scheme reportedly came to light after Brig. Gen. Peter Omolla returned from service in Somalia to take over command of the URDC, replacing Ruheesi.

Sources familiar with the investigations claim Omolla was approached by individuals seeking to continue the alleged fuel diversion racket but declined to participate.

Investigators allege the facility was allocated about 20,000 litres of petrol and 30,000 litres of diesel every month. However, only about 10,000 litres of petrol and 15,000 litres of diesel reportedly reached the facility, with roughly half of the monthly fuel allocation allegedly disappearing.

Based on fuel prices at the time, about 5,000 per litre for petrol and 4,800 for diesel, the alleged theft is estimated to have caused losses of approximately 3.5 billion Shillings over three years. The prosecution further alleges that officials who resisted participating in the scheme, including Omolla, faced hostility from those involved.

In a separate case before the same Court Martial, former Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS) Commandant Maj. Gen. James Birungi is facing treachery and security-related charges. Birungi was arrested in mid-2025 over allegations that he orchestrated fake terror bombings in Kampala in which two women were killed.

Before Birungi’s arrest, Gen. Muhoozi ordered the detention of several of his close aides, including Col. Peter Ahimbisibwe, then Director of Counterterrorism at DIS, and Lt. Col. Ephraim Byaruhanga, who headed Special Operations.

The UPDF also arrested ten junior officers and two civilians over their alleged involvement in staging fake terror incidents in Munyonyo and Kalerwe. Investigations were later expanded to include similar incidents in Bunamwaya, Nateete and Komamboga.

In another unrelated case, Col. Patrick Semakula was arrested over allegations that he received US$300,000 in exchange for sharing UPDF intelligence with a foreign country interested in military operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Birungi also appeared before the General Court Martial on Tuesday for a scheduled bail hearing. However, the application did not proceed after he indicated he was not ready, and the court remanded him until July 31 for the hearing of his bail application.