Keypoints:
- Two senior Ugandan generals detained over alleged corruption
- Arrests ordered by army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba
- Move signals tightening control within military leadership
UGANDA has detained two senior army officers in what officials describe as a widening crackdown on alleged corruption within the country’s armed forces, according to state-owned media reports.
Major General Don William Nabasa and Brigadier General Johnson Namanya Abaho were taken into custody on Thursday night after orders from Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the New Vision newspaper reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba previously warned corrupt officers to leave the UPDF, signalling a harder stance against misconduct within the ranks.
The two officers are currently being held at a military facility and have not issued any public response to the allegations or their detention.
Anti-corruption drive intensifies
The arrests mark one of the most high-profile moves yet in an internal military purge aimed at addressing alleged corruption within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), as leadership reshuffles gather pace under General Kainerugaba.
Senior roles under scrutiny
Maj Gen Nabasa had been serving as joint staff for policy and strategy, a key position within the military’s planning structure. Brig Gen Namanya, meanwhile, was recently recalled from his role as commissioner of citizenship and passport management, according to New Vision.
Their arrests suggest that scrutiny has extended beyond frontline command roles to include strategic and administrative positions within Uganda’s security establishment.
The military leadership has not yet disclosed the specific allegations underpinning the detentions, nor indicated whether formal charges will follow.
Leadership changes under way
Alongside the arrests, reports indicate that the military chief has appointed a new deputy chief of military intelligence, further underscoring a broader restructuring effort within the armed forces.
The changes are being interpreted by analysts as part of an attempt to consolidate authority and reinforce internal oversight mechanisms within the UPDF.
General Kainerugaba, who assumed leadership of the military in March 2024, has increasingly taken a visible role in shaping the direction of the armed forces.
Political backdrop and succession questions
The developments come against the backdrop of long-standing political continuity in Uganda.
President Yoweri Museveni has warned corruption threatens the army’s integrity, previously describing corrupt actors within the military as a threat to national security.
Museveni, who has ruled for nearly four decades, secured another term in elections held in January 2026 and is expected to be sworn in for a seventh term in May.
He has dismissed speculation that his son’s rise within the military signals a succession plan, maintaining that appointments are based on merit and institutional needs.
However, the prominence of General Kainerugaba in both military and public affairs continues to fuel debate about the country’s future leadership trajectory.
Implications for military governance
The detention of two high-ranking officers is likely to have ripple effects across Uganda’s security architecture.
Ugandan leadership has previously acknowledged corruption within military systems, including concerns over resource misuse and internal accountability.
Observers say the latest crackdown could strengthen oversight but may also expose deeper institutional tensions if further arrests follow.
For now, authorities have not provided additional details, and it remains unclear how extensive the anti-corruption drive will become in the coming weeks.
