General Court Martial sitting
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I On two separate occasions, proposed sureties for former military intelligence chief Maj Gen James Mugabe Birungi have failed to appear before the General Court Martial, prompting the continued detention of the senior officer as he seeks bail.
The latest development occurred on Monday when a proposed surety failed to appear in court to support Birungi’s bail application. The court, sitting at Makindye and chaired by Brig Gen Richard Tukachungurwa, consequently ordered that Birungi remain in custody at the Makindye Military Police Barracks until Thursday, September 24, when the bail hearing is expected to continue.
Birungi, a former commander of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), is facing charges of treachery and offences relating to security. He denies the allegations and remains presumed innocent unless convicted by a competent court.
His continued detention is therefore not a determination of his guilt, but follows the failure to meet the conditions necessary for his bail application to proceed.
The latest failure by a proposed surety to appear before the court mirrors an earlier incident in July, when Birungi was also remanded after his sureties failed to turn up for the proceedings.
The repeated absence of the proposed sureties has consequently delayed the consideration of Birungi’s application for temporary release, leaving him in military custody as the prosecution case continues.
Birungi was arrested in August 2025 as part of investigations into allegations that fabricated intelligence reports had been used to obtain operational funds. The reports reportedly involved purported terrorist threats.
The allegations remain unproven before court, and the General Court Martial has yet to determine whether Birungi committed the offences for which he is charged.
Before his arrest, Birungi had held several senior positions in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), including commander of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and commander of the Mountain Division.
The General Court Martial also handled other cases on Monday, including proceedings involving two civilians who pleaded guilty to offences related to military clothing and firearms.
Benjamin Nsubuga and Benson Asiimwe were each sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to unlawfully wearing a military uniform and illegally possessing a firearm.
Nsubuga was ordered to serve his sentence at Kitalya Prison, while Asiimwe was sent to Gulu Prison.
In another case, Brig Gen Tukachungurwa remanded Robert Ochan Othieno to the Makindye detention facility until September 28.
Othieno is charged with unlawful possession of military clothing. Like Birungi, he has not been convicted, meaning the charge against him remains an allegation pending determination by the court.
For Birungi, Thursday’s proceedings are expected to determine whether his bail application can finally proceed, provided the proposed sureties appear before the court and satisfy the requirements for securing his release.
About the Author
