By Sadique Bamwita
KAMPALA
After spending close to two years in Military jail, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) ,Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has pardoned the embattled former Commander of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) currently the Chieftaincy of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS), Maj.Gen .James Birungi on treachery charges and ordered his immediate release.
Following his release from jail, Maj.Gen. James Birungi will now rejoin his official wife Hon.Dr.Doreen Birungi Katushabe, the Woman Legislator for Lyantonde district. His wife won the 2026 parliamentary polls for Lyantonde district woman legislator when he was freezing behind bars in Military detention facility.
In a post on his X account on Thursday October 22, 2026, Gen Muhoozi acknowledged that Birungi had committed great crimes against Uganda and should face punishment, however he has decided to forgive him since he(Muhoozi) is a firm believer in Jesus Christ, who taught forgiveness in his ministry.
“MG.Birungi committed great crimes against our army and people. He should rightly have faced a very severe sentence,” he said.
He added,: “However, I believe in Jesus Christ who always teaches forgiveness. Christ forgave me, who I’m I not to forgive?. I have forgiven him. We will release him soon”.
Maj Gen Birungi, who has stayed on remand since his arrest in August 2025, has been facing charges of treachery and offences related to security case. He is accused with other several Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) officers in connection with allegations that their fabricated intelligence reports were used to obtain operational funds.
The alleged false intelligence info is also linked to security operations in which civilians were shot and wrongly presented as suspected suicide bombers, including incidents at Kalerwe Market and near the Catholic Shrine in Munyonyo during last year’s Martyrs’ Day celebrations .
