Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has announced that former military intelligence chief Maj Gen James Mugabe Birungi will be released soon, saying his Christian faith has compelled him to forgive the senior officer despite accusing him of committing serious crimes against the army and the Ugandan people.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Muhoozi said Birungi deserved severe punishment but had chosen forgiveness, invoking the teachings of Jesus Christ to explain his decision.
“MG. Birungi committed great crimes against our army and people. He should rightly have faced a very severe sentence,” Muhoozi wrote.
“However, I believe in Jesus Christ who always teaches forgiveness. Christ forgave me, who I’m I not to forgive myself. I have forgiven him. We will release him soon.”
The announcement signals a possible turning point in the case of Birungi, a former head of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), who has been detained at Makindye Military Police Barracks since August 2025 while facing charges before the General Court Martial.
However, Muhoozi did not specify when Birungi would be released, whether the charges against him would be withdrawn, or what legal process would be used to secure his freedom.
Birungi Arrested After Intelligence Probe
Birungi was arrested in August 2025 following a high-level military inquiry into alleged misconduct within the UPDF intelligence establishment. He had previously served as director of CMI before being transferred through other senior military assignments.
His case centres on allegations that fabricated intelligence reports about terrorist threats were used to obtain operational funds. He was charged before the General Court Martial with treachery and offences relating to security, allegations he has denied.
The investigation also drew attention to incidents in Munyonyo and Kalerwe in June 2025, where two women died in operations linked to alleged staged suicide-bomb threats. Two former government informers, Hamza Lyavaala and Adiil Walusansa, pleaded guilty to murder in connection with the incidents in October 2026.
However, Birungi has not been convicted of the charges against him, and the allegations in his case remain distinct from the convictions of the two informers.
Release Raises Questions About the Court Case
Muhoozi’s announcement comes after Birungi’s latest reported court appearance on October 5, when the General Court Martial further remanded him after the prosecution said it was not ready to respond to his bail application. The court extended his detention as the proceedings continued.
The CDF’s statement does not clarify whether the intended release will involve withdrawing the charges, ending the detention through another legal procedure, or taking a separate military decision.
The announcement therefore leaves an important question unanswered: will Birungi’s release bring an end to the criminal proceedings, or will the case continue after he leaves detention?
The case has attracted attention because it involves a former senior intelligence chief and allegations concerning the handling of security intelligence. Muhoozi’s latest statement indicates that he intends to have Birungi released, but the formal legal steps and timing remain unclear.
