UPDF in Turmoil: Gen. Muhoozi Unleashes Anti-Corruption Storm, 10 Top UPDF Officers Arrested

A massive anti-corruption operation has sent shockwaves through the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), with ten high-ranking officers — including generals — now behind bars. The dramatic arrests, which took place under the direct command of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, are part of a wide-ranging internal probe. Sources from the Witness Uganda intelligence unit confirm that the detainees are being held at Makindye Military Barracks and Kasenyi Barracks in Entebbe.

Insiders reveal that investigators are focusing on the UPDF’s Logistics Department, which is alleged to be at the center of a complex web of corruption — from ghost supply contracts and bloated procurement budgets to kickbacks and low-quality deliveries.

But the rot doesn’t stop within military ranks. According to reports, civilian accomplices — including influential city tycoons — are also under the spotlight for their alleged involvement in shady military supply deals.

While Redpepper has obtained the identities of both the arrested officers and implicated civilians, it is withholding them for now due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

The Logistics Department, which operates under the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA), oversees vital areas like procurement, transportation, logistics support, and training. Although there have been recent reforms aimed at modernization and improved resource management, this new operation reveals that systemic corruption still lingers.

According to military insiders, Gen. Muhoozi is leading a calculated, department-by-department purge.

His anti-corruption drive reportedly began with the Finance Department, where significant progress was made — arrests were carried out, illicit cash recovered, and several officers either sent on compulsory leave, reassigned for studies, or tactfully removed from influential positions.

“I can assure you the Finance department was cleaned thoroughly, there’s no longer theft there, they were neutralised. The theft is now in the Logistics Department and soon they will feel the heat,” a highly placed military source told Redpepper.

Engineering Brigade in the Hot Seat

The once-celebrated Engineering Brigade, lauded for its contributions to Uganda’s infrastructure, has also been dragged into the widening scandal.

Earlier this year, Col. Godfrey Tukamwakira, former commander of the brigade, was arrested on corruption-related charges. The Inspector General of Government (IGG) had also flagged his rapidly amassed wealth, raising serious concerns.

Sources claim that after uncovering disturbing levels of misconduct during Col. Tukamwakira’s tenure, Gen. Muhoozi ordered his immediate arrest. However, his current status in custody remains unclear.

In a more recent twist, Brig Gen. Cyrus Besigye Bekunda, the Chief Joint Staff Engineer, was also arrested alongside other senior officers from the Engineering Brigade. The move followed fresh revelations of procurement fraud and misappropriation.

“Yesterday, I ordered the arrest of Brig. Bekunda Besigye and other officers of the Engineers Brigade,” Gen. Muhoozi announced via X on July 2nd.

He further stated: “They poisoned, contaminated and desecrated a sacred principle we have always embraced as UPDF i.e. we can be self-sufficient, we can be efficient. They received monies and misused it! Let their punishment serve as a lesson to others.”

The Engineering Brigade has long played a pivotal role in building low-cost, high-impact projects such as military barracks, schools, and public roads. However, internal audits have now uncovered glaring financial irregularities, prompting widespread alarm.

Other government departments have also raised flags. According to insider reports, the brigade has been accused of using intimidation tactics to secure contracts. One major complaint came from senior officials overseeing a key education sector project — the construction of a Secretariat near the Public Health Nurses College on Kyambogo Hill, along Kigobe Road.

Clean-Up with Teeth

Since stepping into the CDF role, Gen. Muhoozi has put the fight against corruption at the center of his leadership agenda. He has made it abundantly clear that the UPDF will not be a safe haven for embezzlers or abusers of office.

Gen. Muhoozi has repeatedly emphasized that discipline, honor, and accountability must define the army’s identity.

“Any individual or group with selfish interests—whether corruption, misappropriation of resources, or mismanagement of any kind—must reform immediately or leave our cherished UPDF before they are exposed,” Gen. Muhoozi warned last year while closing a logistics and inventory management retreat at the College of Logistics and Engineering (COLE) in Magamaga, Jinja.

His latest actions underscore a zero-tolerance approach and a firm resolve to restore integrity to the army’s core operations. Observers say this isn’t merely a corruption bust — it’s a systematic reboot of the institution itself.

According to security analysts, the crackdown reflects a broader strategy: to enforce discipline, rebuild public trust, and embed a culture of transparency across the UPDF ranks. With more arrests expected, Gen. Muhoozi appears determined to leave no stone unturned.