MK GRAFT WAR ENTERS BEDROOMS! Army to raid civil servants’ homes hiding loot under beds, wardrobes & vaults

BY VENENSCIAS KIIZA

The war against corruption in Uganda is entering its most dramatic and unsettling phase yet — and this time, it is no longer confined to offices, ministries or bank vaults. Highly placed intelligence sources have revealed to RedPepper that security and anti-corruption agencies are preparing to launch impromptu raids on the homes of civil servants suspected of looting taxpayers’ money.

RedPepper has learnt that the impending operations, described as “surgical, intelligence-led and ruthless,” will target senior officials across government ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals. The raids, sources say, will come without warning and will be the culmination of months of painstaking investigations.

The startling conclusion reached by investigators is that a significant amount of stolen public money is no longer being hidden in banks — but inside people’s homes. Under beds. Inside wardrobes. Stuffed in suitcases. Vaults rooms. Safes. Etc.

And now, the reckoning may finally be at hand.

MUHOOZI AT THE CENTRE OF THE STORM

Leading this unprecedented crackdown, according to intelligence sources, is the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has reportedly vowed to “stamp out corruption completely, starting from where it hurts most.”

Sources say Gen. Muhoozi arrived at this conclusion following ongoing internal operations against corruption within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), where shocking discoveries have been made during recent raids.

Several high-ranking army officers have already been raided quietly, an intelligence source disclosed, and “Billions of shillings were found tucked away in bedrooms.”

In one particularly explosive case, a recent raid on a senior official in the UPDF Air force reportedly uncovered over Shs10 billion hidden inside his house.

The operation, initially limited to the army, has now been earmarked for expansion — and all government workers are firmly in the crosshairs.

M7 ‘BLESSES’ THE MOVE

Sources further claim that President Yoweri Museveni has been briefed on the plan and is said to have blessed the idea, signalling high-level political backing for what could become one of the most aggressive anti-corruption drives in Uganda’s history.

As word quietly spreads within government corridors, panic is reportedly setting in.

“People are scared,” said a source. “There is fear everywhere — ministries, agencies, parastatals. Some people are not sleeping.”

RedPepper has seen a provisional list of civil servants suspected of hoarding massive cash sums at home, but it cannot be exposed now as it is still undergoing legal verification to avoid procedural pitfalls.

A HISTORY OF BEDROOM BILLIONS

Uganda’s history is littered with bizarre and embarrassing scandals involving huge sums of money mysteriously found — or lost — in people’s homes.

Last year, over Shs2 billion was stolen from the home of NRM Treasurer Barbra Oundo Nekesa. The ruling party later denied that the money belonged to NRM, while her husband, Sulaiman Lumolo, claimed ownership.

In 2021, Police detectives recovered shs600 million cash money tucked in office drawers and homes of suspects involved in Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) fraud.

The recovered money was part of the shs3 billion that the suspects were alleged to have looted from the corporation. The case is ongoing in court, though some suspects fled the country.

In 2009, former National Forestry Authority (NFA) Executive Director Damien Akankwasa was thrust into the spotlight when his wife, Juliet Katusiime Akankwasa, was accused of stealing Shs900 million hidden in their bedroom. She was later convicted and jailed for three years. Akankwasa himself was later investigated by the IGG for illicit enrichment, though he was acquitted in 2016.

In the early 2000s, a house-help of a senior army officer stole a massive stash of cash from his employer’s bedroom and hid it in a garbage container. Fate intervened when an unscheduled garbage truck arrived, exposing the money and triggering a scramble among turn-men and nearby residents. The officer never reported the theft — possibly because he could not explain the source of the money.

In 2005, a senior Electoral Commission official lost USD200,000 to his houseboy, who allegedly found it lying somewhere in the house, most likely in the bedroom. The official never made a public complaint. The houseboy fled the country.

In all these cases, one question lingered unanswered: How could public servants earn such money legitimately?

WHY UNDER THE PILLOW?

So why would anyone keep billions of shillings at home, despite the obvious risks?

“People are getting funny money,” an intelligence officer privy to the impending operations told RedPepper. “They fear banks. They fear questions.”

He added: “It defies logic. You ask yourself — what is in this person’s mind, and where did the money come from? This is about hiding, about operating underground.”

While Ugandan law does not limit how much cash one can keep at home, banking regulations require commercial banks to report suspicious large deposits to the Bank of Uganda.

“In the US, depositing $10,000 in cash triggers questions,” the officer explained. “Here, unexplained huge deposits are flagged. That’s why they avoid banks.”

Ironically, intelligence sources note that some corrupt officials have even shifted from keeping dollars to local currency, believing it to be “safer” amid global currency fluctuations.

A NATION THAT SAVES AT HOME

Ironically, the issue of keeping money at home is not unique to corrupt officials.

According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, 17% of Ugandans keep cash at home, compared to 20% who save on mobile money and just 7% who use commercial banks.

Buganda leads in formal saving, while West Nile has the highest proportion of people keeping cash at home.

But while for ordinary Ugandans it is often about convenience and access, for powerful public servants, investigators believe it is about something far more sinister.

As one intelligence officer bluntly put it: “The bedrooms are talking. And soon, they will be opened.”

If the planned raids go ahead, Uganda may be on the brink of its most explosive corruption reckoning yet — one that begins not in boardrooms or courtrooms, but behind closed bedroom doors.

MK WAR ON CORRUPTION

The fight against corruption in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is still ongoing. Early this month, senior officials attached to the UPDF Air force and as well civilians were reportedly detained on orders of the CDF over alleged corruption. This came on the heels of another operation where 10 senior officers, including some at the rank of General, were three months ago arrested and detained at Makindye Military Barracks and Kasenyi Barracks, Entebbe.

Highly placed sources confirmed that the ongoing investigation is targeting the Logistics Department of the army, where officers are accused of engaging in fraudulent dealings involving “air” supplies, inflated procurement budgets, kickbacks, and delivery of substandard materials among others.

The CDF’s corruption crackdown is not limited to uniformed officers. Civilians, including city tycoons, are reportedly under probe for their role in fraudulent army supply contracts.

RedPepper is in possession of the identities of civilians being probed but we’re withholding them for now.

The UPDF logistics department, which operates under the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA), is tasked with overseeing combat logistics, transport, procurement, mobility, and training.

The department has in recent years focused on modernizing systems, preventing resource misuse, and enhancing operational capacity through new logistics manuals and structured training.

Sources further revealed that the CDF is conducting a systematic cleanup operation, moving department by department.

He reportedly began with the Finance Department, where several officers were arrested, others forced to refund money, while some were sent on forced leave, katebbe, studies, or sidelined.

“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 intimated to RedPepper.

ENGINEERING BRIGADE ALREADY HIT

The Engineering Brigade, which has spearheaded construction and infrastructure projects across Uganda, was also not spared.

Earlier this year, its former commander, Col. Godfrey Tukamwakira was arrested over corruption allegations, with the Inspector General of Government (IGG) also raising questions about his wealth.

The CDF, who has vowed to take corruption head on starting in his own backyard was reportedly overwhelmed by the information he got about the rot at the UPDF Engineering Brigade especially during Col.Tukamwakira tenure as the boss and was left with no option but to order his arrest.

We could not confirm whether Col.Tukamwakira was still in detention at the time of this publication.

Recently, Gen. Muhoozi also ordered the arrest of Brig Gen Cyrus Besigye Bekunda, Chief Joint Staff Engineer, and other officers from the UPDF Engineers Brigade over similar corruption allegations.

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

He added: “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 money and misused it! Let their punishment serve as a lesson to others.”

The Engineers Brigade is central to military construction projects, infrastructure development, and logistical operations across Uganda.

It has long been praised for its role in delivering cost-effective public works, ranging from barracks to civilian road infrastructure.

It has been responsible for key infrastructure development across the country, including construction projects in sectors like health, education, and roads.

While details surrounding the alleged misuse of funds remain under wraps, military sources say an internal audit flagged irregularities in procurement and project management activities within the brigade.

Several government departments are also accusing the Engineering Brigade of resorting to threats, intimidation and coercion to secure contracts from them as we shall report later. One of the victims are top bosses at one of the boards/authorities under the ministry of education while they embarked on construction of a Secretariat along Kigobe Road, Kyambogo Hill, next to Public Health Nurses College.

REFORM AT GUNPOINT

Since becoming CDF, Gen. Muhoozi has made anti-corruption a cornerstone of his leadership, warning officers that misuse of funds will not be tolerated.

He has often stated that the UPDF must remain an institution of integrity, accountability, and service to the people.

“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 during the closing ceremony of a logistics and inventory management retreat at the College of Logistics and Engineering (COLE) in Magamaga, Jinja.

His recent actions highlight the CDF’s commitment to cleansing the army of officers who betray the values that have built the UPDF into a respected and professional force.

Analysts view the crackdown as part of Gen. Muhoozi’s broader strategy to strengthen institutional discipline, restore confidence in military operations, and reinforce transparency within the force.

WIDER PICTURE

In May 2022, while celebrating Gen.Muhoozi 48th birthday, at State House-Entebbe, President Yoweri Museveni revealed that whereas he was patient with the corrupt, Muhoozi was not.

President Museveni said: “Muhoozi will fight corruption, I am patient with corrupt people but Muhoozi is impatient, he will fight corruption.”

Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame was present.

Sources now have told us that Gen.Muhoozi has been behind the scenes helping his father to get rid of the corrupt before and after he was appointed CDF.

Watchers explained to us that MK and his group under PLU have made the corruption fight as an entry point.

The group is reportedly pushing MK to get attributes of Rwandan President Paul Kagame at fighting corruption.

Others are pushing MK to instill values in his PLU like those espoused by Gen.Muntu.

A story is told of how one day, a Ugandan journalist had a conversation with President Kagame and he told him how tough he was on running the country.

President Kagame reportedly played it down and told the lad…”If you think I am tough, try Gen.Muntu[Mugisha]….”

Gen. Muntu currently leads the ANT party.

After the NRA victory in 1986 he emerged as the head of Military Intelligence where he had under his command personalities like Paul Kagame, who would later become the President of Rwanda.

He was later to serve as Commander of the UPDF. Observers have attributed Gen. Muntu’s quick ascension to the pinnacle of the NRA/UPDF to his reputation as an incorruptible and loyal officer.

Muntu and Kagame were also reportedly at one time housemates in Kololo along Prince Charles drive.

Therefore, Kagame is a student of Gen. Muntu, watchers say.

And MK must be a student of Kagame. Why?

In his autobiography, ‘Sowing the Mustard seed’, President Museveni explains that to get power in Uganda and retain it, one needs a regional stable president in his backyard.

In Museveni’s case, the ally he identified was Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. In the book, the president expounds how the Obotes had blocked his efforts to talk to Nyerere for six years (Nov 1979 to 1985) having convinced the Tanzanians that Museveni was dangerous.

And so Museveni could not meet Nyerere throughout the Obote 11 period until 1985 towards the fall of the Lutwa junta when, during the peace talks in Nairobi, Nyerere invited Museveni and gave him 10,000 rifles and one million bullets which the NRA used in its final push to capture power.

This story has come to mind in the light of the goings on about Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s alleged presidential bid. As we wrote this, one key question begged answers: What is the role of President Kagame in the ‘Muhoozi Project’, if at all exists?

Guests at Muhoozi’s 48th birthday party at State House Entebbe in 2022, had a glimpse of what President Kagame’s role is likely to be in the Muhoozi succession plan. Guests report that for many long hours, Museveni, Kagame, Maama Janet and Muhoozi held long discussions inside the State House. Sources reported shortly afterwards that Museveni had told the meeting of the quartet that he was not growing younger and asked Kagame to help teach Muhoozi the ropes.

Of course Muhoozi and Kagame had struck their friendship earlier which helped in the reopening of the Katuna border that had been closed for three years.

But at the Entebbe meeting, Kagame’s long term role became even clearer. He is to be to Muhoozi what Mwalimu was to Museveni—the backyard backer on whom Muhoozi can rely to come to power and retain it.

Shortly thereafter, Muhoozi, himself a graduate of Sandhurst, reportedly signed recommendation papers for Kagames’s son Brian to join the prestigious UK military academy.

For his 49th birthday party, Muhoozi travelled to Kigali where Uncle Kagame hosted him. Muhoozi went along with two politicians whose role on the project needs to be explained: Nobert Mao, the astute orator and justice minister, says his role in government is to prepare a smooth transition from Museveni to the next president. That next president is Muhoozi. Jim Muhwezi, the security minister who was also in the entourage is an old RPA ally.

It is said during the RPA war (1990- 1994) Muhwezi was key. So he represents the continuity for the old dispensation into the new. But Muhwezi also has strong family ties with Kagame. He marries Susan the daughter of Costance Kabonero of Rubare, Ntungamo who is Kagame’s mum number 2 of sorts.

So, like Jesus was transfigured at Mt. Tabor—appearing to be talking with Moses and Elijah representing the law and the prophets respectively, Muhoozi (the anointed one) appeared in Kigali with Mao and Muhwezi representing the transition and continuity respectively.

And so the Kagame’s role is clearly cut out. He will groom Muhoozi and give him back up support of all forms. The choice of Kagame is important. Unlike the other neighbouring countries, Rwanda has no term limits, so Kagame will be around long enough to assist Muhoozi come to power.

But when will that be?

BACK TO CORRUPTION WAR

Gen.Museveni reportedly doesn’t want the old guard to ‘infect’ the MK group with their issues.

A story is told of how one day, when MK army now PLU was organising an event in Kiruhura, western Uganda, a call reportedly came from State House to Bush war veteran Colonel (Retired) Fred Mwesigye, now Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania. And the caller asked Mwesigye whether he could identify an age mate around where he was.

Immediately, Mwesigye entered his car and disappeared.

From then, watchers pointed out that it was clear that old guards were not needed near the saints (PLU).

A year ago, when one of PLU functionaries Frank Gashumba had a spat with Mawanda over disciplinary issues, the social commentator unearthed Mawanda’s ghosts and warned him.

“By the way, tell us, when will you appear before CID for corruption and theft of cooperatives’ money meant for compensation of poor people to the tune of Ugx 164bn?” he asked.

When Minister Balaam Barugahara was in Hoima for the Banyoro cultural celebration, many voices asked him why he was silent on money meant for cooperators that was siphoned.

Bunyoro has many of those who were ripped off.

Balaam reportedly asked Police CID boss, Tom Magambo on why culprits were not being arrested.

Mawanda was later arrested over the Coops cash.

“From then, PLU is intent on removing all officials that have a corrupt past. And it is no surprise that the old, having a long time in service are bound to fall victims,” a source revealed.

Mawanda surprised many when he emerged as the lead promoter for Gen Muhoozi presidential bid when he became the national chairman of the MK Group. This was a surprise because Mawanda and Muhoozi weren’t known to be buddies. In fact this association partly prompted Museveni to develop cold feet towards the MK Group, sources say. The president would later tell the MK leadership in a meeting that most of them were self-seekers looking for money or covering up for their dubious activities. When Mawandas dealings became too apparent he was shuffled out of the chairmanship and made disciplinary committee boss of the renamed Patriotic League Uganda.

During countrywide PLU mobilization activities including birthdays, we are told, some people within MK Movement were putting on ransom local leaders, politicians, and the business community to support ‘the project’ financially saying it was an order or request from Gen. Muhoozi himself.

But this facilitation would end up in pockets of reportedly a few people.

Whereas some contributed willingly, others were reportedly threatened to do so.

Gen. Muhoozi was reportedly unaware, and when he learnt about it, heads had to roll starting with key aides who should have detected it earlier on.

Some mobilisers were arrested and had to refund the monies collected.

WIDER PICTURE

According to observers, Gen. Muhoozi is aware that Ugandans are tired of corruption in the NRM government. And to win their hearts, he must tackle it head on.

We are told he wants to make sure PLU is a no corruption area before and after it gets into power.

We are told that he has even set up systems to make sure it is dealt with.

He is reportedly tough on accountability to an extent that you have to account for even shs1000 he releases to you.

Political observers want PLU to designate corruption as a terror act and culprits be treated as suicide bombers.

“Once the society sees the new administration is serious about fighting corruption, they will support his [Gen.Muhoozi] government,” asserts one of the political pundits.

There is still a belief amongst Ugandans that Uganda needs a president with a military background to still secure their peace.

Because of this, Ugandans and even the old guard might be willing to embrace Gen. Muhoozi.

Observers opine that Gen.Muhoozi must do what his father has failed and corruption is one of them.

PLU, accordingly, should also dedicate its energy towards services to people, according to commentators. These include transport infrastructure and education.

Watchers also say medical care/ health should be another priority—the population has been left to unscrupulous private players.

“There should also be a business-enabling environment. Businesses are collapsing. Ugandans don’t have jobs. They are stressed and depressed. Taxes are high. Access to cheap loans is next to impossible…all these must be addressed. Once they [Ugandans] feel money in their pockets, then he [Gen.Muhoozi] can rule as much as he wants.”

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