Exclusive: Muhoozi fires Brig. Rugumayo as Deputy Military Intelligence boss

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has fired Brig Abdul Rugumayo from his position as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly known as the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), this website has learnt.

Brig Rugumayo was appointed to the powerful intelligence docket in March 2022, replacing Brig Gen Charles Asiimwe, and formally took over office during a handover ceremony presided over by then Deputy CDF Lt Gen Peter Elwelu at Mbuya.

According to a radio message sanctioned by Gen Muhoozi and issued on Iddi Day last Friday, Brig Rugumayo was relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

Ironically, the development reportedly found Rugumayo, who is a Muslim, in the middle of Iddi celebrations, turning what should have been a festive day into a bitter one.

A highly placed source at UPDF headquarters in Mbuya told this website that Rugumayo was not assigned any new substantive office, but was instead directed to report back to the Human Resource Office pending deployment a move often interpreted within military circles as a sign of loss of favour or internal disciplinary concern.

The exact reason for his abrupt sacking remains unclear.

However, a separate senior military source said the dismissal may be unconnected to ongoing internal scrutiny within the military intelligence establishment that reportedly started after Gen Muhoozi assumed office as CDF.

“From the time he took over office, the CDF commenced investigations into the CMI/DIS directorate because he had heard a lot of unbecoming conduct involving top officers misusing their positions to engage in transactions that break the army code,” the source said.

The source further alleged that some officers within the intelligence directorate had become notorious for engaging in dubious commercial dealings, including gold trade networks and other shadowy operations inconsistent with military service.

“CMI bosses had become known as top gold dealers in the city and illegal deal makers. If you engage in such illicit deals and at the same time you work in intelligence, when do you have time to work?” the source wondered.

Rugumayo’s dismissal comes about seven months after the dramatic fall of his former boss, Maj Gen James Birungi, the then CMI chief, who was fired, arrested and remains in detention at Makindye Military Barracks pending court martial proceedings.

Maj Gen Birungi was arrested together with two of his juniors, Col Peter Ahimbisibwe, then Director of Counter Terrorism, and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga, then Director of Special Operations.

Following Birungi’s ouster, he was replaced by Maj Gen Richard Otto, the former commander of the UPDF Mountain Division.

Sources say a committee of senior UPDF generals compiled a damning internal report on the conduct and operations of the former CMI leadership.

According to one source, the findings painted a troubling picture of an intelligence outfit that had allegedly drifted away from its core national security mandate and instead turned into what he described as a “money-making venture.”

The same source made explosive claims that some operatives had allegedly gone as far as “faking bombs” and “sacrificing innocent Ugandans” in operations that, if true, would raise grave concerns about the integrity and accountability of the intelligence establishment.

These allegations, however, remain unverified independently and no official military statement has yet been issued publicly explaining Rugumayo’s dismissal.

When he took over as Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi publicly signaled his intention to clean up the army, especially institutions seen as tainted by corruption, abuse of office and rogue dealings.

Rugumayo’s firing is therefore likely to fuel further speculation that the CDF’s purge within military intelligence is far from over.

The acting UPDF publicist Col Chris Magezi couldn’t be reached for a comment as his known phone number was unavailable.