The General Court Martial in Makindye has remanded four senior UPDF officers accused of stealing over 270,000 litres of fuel meant for army operations.
Brig Gen James Barigye Ruheesi, previously attached to the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Center (URDCC) in Jinja, Colonel David Ociti Kidega,52 , a staff officer in charge of petroleum at the Joint Services Logistics, Major Innocent Kikongi Mugumya, 41 formerly attached to URDCC as a transport officer, and Captain Kenneth Labwon Kinyera from the UPDF joint Health Services appeared before court chaired by Brigadier Richard Tukacungurwa and charges of personal interests endangering operational efficiency contrary to section 122(b) of the UPDF Act read against them.
According to prosecution led by Col Raphael Mugisha, the offence was committed between July 2022 and December 2023 in Kampala and Jinja when the group misused 270,000 litres of automotive gas oil for personal interest.
The fuel was meant to run heavy operational equipment at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Center in Jinja.
The accused however denied the charges and were remanded until May, 29.
The law
Section 122(b) of the UPDF Act stipulates that a person subject to military law who misuses operational funds, food or other supplies for personal interest commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to life imprisonment.
