Senior UPDF Officers Face Court Martial for Diverting 27,000 Litres of Diesel

Four senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers have been brought before the General Court Martial in Makindye over allegations of misappropriating operational fuel for personal use.

The officers are Brig Gen James Barigye Ruheesi, Col David Ocitti Kidega, Maj Innocent Kikongo Mugumya, and Capt Kenneth Labwon Kinyera.

They appeared before the military court and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.

State prosecutors allege that the group diverted about 27,000 litres of diesel that had been allocated for official military operations.

The alleged incidents are said to have taken place between July 2022 and December 2023 across Kampala and Jinja.

The prosecution maintains that the fuel was irregularly redirected for private benefit, contrary to UPDF regulations governing the use of operational resources.

The session was presided over by Brig Gen Richard Tukachungurwa, who adjourned the proceedings to May 29, 2026, when the case will come up again for mention.

It should be remembered that Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has threatened to make corrupt officials in the UPDF cry, with some arrested, as detailed Here and There.

Weeks ago, top UPDF generals have been arrested and detained on orders of Gen Muhoozi, with Muhoozi forgiving one of them after a meeting. (See Details Here and There).

Months before that,  Muhoozi fired the UPDF intelligence for reportedly falsifying intelligence reports, as detaled Here, There and Over There.