Two former chiefs of Uganda’s military intelligence, Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho and Brig. Charles Bakahumura, have been arrested by the military under unclear circumstances.
The two former senior officers were reportedly arrested in separate operations.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Wednesday morning appeared to confirm the arrests, although he did not name the officers.
“We have captured one of the dancing generals. Another one will be captured soon,” Muhoozi said.
Kandiho and Bakahumura are among the generals who recently retired from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and were captured on video dancing during a function at State House, Entebbe, presided over by President Yoweri Museveni.
Gen. Muhoozi had earlier threatened to arrest the retired generals over their participation in the dance.
On Wednesday, Muhoozi said one of the generals was hiding at his farm in Gomba.
“One is running for dear life in one of his farms in Gomba. He might try escaping to Rwanda. We shall capture him wherever he goes,” Muhoozi said.
Brig. Charles Bakahumura
Bakahumura is among the 19 UPDF general officers who officially retired from the army last month after decades of service.
At the time of his retirement, he had served in the military for 35 years.
He previously served as Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI) from 2012 to 2017 and later as Chief of Logistics and Engineering (CLE) for seven years, from 2017 to February 2024.
As CLE, Bakahumura was responsible for the UPDF’s logistical requirements, including the management of equipment and food supplies.
He was later posted to Ankara as Uganda’s Defence Attaché to Turkey.
In 2022, reports emerged that Bakahumura had been arrested as part of investigations into the alleged theft of fuel meant for UPDF operations. However, the then UPDF spokesperson, Brig. Felix Kulaigye, denied the claims.
Bakahumura also denied being under arrest in a post on social media.
“This is not true and I don’t know the intentions of the people who are writing and spreading such falsehoods. I guess it is out of malice,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho
Born in Gomba District, Kandiho rose through the ranks of the UPDF and, in the early 2000s, served at the Uganda High Commission in Kigali, Rwanda.
He also served as commander of Makindye Military Barracks before being appointed Chief of Military Intelligence in 2017. The CMI is now known as Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS).
Kandiho headed military intelligence during a period when relations between Uganda and Rwanda were at their lowest, with the two countries accusing each other of espionage and other security-related activities.
In 2020, Kandiho was removed as CMI chief and replaced by Maj. Gen. James Birungi, who is also currently under detention.
The latest arrests mean that the three immediate former chiefs of Uganda’s military intelligence are currently under detention.
