Appointment of New Court Martial Paves Way for Trial of Gen Birungi

President Museveni has appointed a new leadership of the General Court Martial, clearing the final administrative hurdle for the long-awaited prosecution of former military intelligence chief Major General James Birungi, who has been detained since August on charges that include treason, terrorism, corruption and murder.

A State House communication dated November 25 and addressed to Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba named Brigadier General Richard Tukachungurwa as the new Chairperson of the General Court Martial, supported by nine other senior UPDF officers.

The Judicial Service Commission stamped receipt of the appointments on December 3, formally reconstituting the tribunal after the expiry of the previous panel’s mandate.

Military officials say the appointments now allow the force to schedule hearings for dozens of stalled cases — including Birungi’s, one of the most sensitive intelligence scandals in recent UPDF history.

Birungi, a former Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI), was arrested on August 29 and is being held at Makindye Military Police Prison.

Army officials said then he would face trial on “multiple grave offences” after a high-level board of inquiry uncovered widespread internal breaches.

The investigation, led by Deputy CDF Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, examined allegations of compromised intelligence operations, falsified threat assessments, and manipulation of internal reporting systems.

The investigation also revealed a pattern of misinformation, abuse of resources, and operational manipulation.

Birungi came under scrutiny earlier this year after Brigadier Richard Otto, newly appointed head of Defence Intelligence, initiated internal audits that reportedly exposed irregularities in financial records, threat reports and intelligence briefings.

He was arrested alongside Col. Peter Ahimbisibwe, the then Director of Counter Terrorism, and Lt. Col. Ephraim Byaruhanga, Director of Special Operations.

Their arrest is also linked to a 2023 intelligence failure in which the UPDF falsely declared ADF bomb-maker Meddie Nkalubo dead after an airstrike in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo — a claim publicly endorsed by Birungi and referenced by President Museveni. Nkalubo is now believed to be alive and active.

Investigators are probing whether the misinformation was planted by an informant, Hamza Lyavaraa, who is accused of working as an ADF collaborator while feeding faulty intelligence to CMI.

Birungi’s detention is widely seen as part of a broader purge ordered by Gen. Muhoozi, who has overseen multiple arrests of senior officers in recent months in what the army describes as a push to restore discipline and integrity.

With the new court martial now in place, defence officials say Birungi’s file will be among the first to be listed for hearing.

“The Court Martial is now duly constituted. All pending matters l, especially those of high security interest, can proceed,” a senior military source said.

The UPDF has not publicly announced when Birungi will appear before the tribunal, and military prosecutors have not released full charge sheets.