ROT IN ARMY! 10 Senior UPDF Officers Detained at Makindye, Kasenyi barracks in Latest CDF Purge

BY RED PEPPER INTELLIGENCE UNIT

The fight against corruption in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has intensified after 10 senior officers, including some at the rank of General, were arrested and detained at Makindye Military Barracks and Kasenyi Barracks, Entebbe, on the orders of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Redpepper intelligence unit can exclusively report.

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 and detained officers but we’re withhelding 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 nolonger theft there, they were neutralised. The theft is now in the logistics department and soon they will feel the heat,” a highly placed millitary 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 as we exclusively reported here…https://redpepper.co.ug/corruption-crackdown-igg-directs-gen-muhoozi-to-probe-updf-colonels-sh100bn-abnormal-wealth-exposes-property-list/141735/

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 same 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 monies 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 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.