UPDF engineering brigade chief arrested over alleged misuse of funds

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Brig. Gen. Cyrus Bekunda Besigye and other officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade have been arrested over alleged misuse of funds.

This is according to the Director of Defence Public Information, Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye.

Their arrest follows an order by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Tuesday, July 1.

Gen. Kainerugaba said on X, formerly Twitter, that the officers “poisoned, contaminated and desecrated a sacred principle we have always embraced as UPDF”, which is to be self-sufficient.

“We can be efficient. They received monies and misused it! Let their punishment serve as a lesson to others,” he wrote on his account.

When contacted on Wednesday over the CDF’s order, Kulayigye confirmed, adding, "Do you expect us to delay the commander’s order?”

Analysts say that Gen. Kainerugaba's leadership has been defined by a strong stance on anti-corruption, a reinvigoration of military diplomacy, notable operational achievements, and a resolute push for military jurisdiction.

On September 10, 2024, President Yoweri Museveni hailed him for fighting the misuse of army resources.

“There is the misuse of army resources. The present CDF started fighting that some time ago when he took over the command of SFC [Special Forces Command] and the Land Forces. He was able to use the money that was being misused to build barracks for soldiers,” he said.

The President made the remarks while presiding over the first-ever Kampala Defence and Security Expo 2024 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.

The two-day expo, which was organised by the two ministries of defence and internal affairs, was in honour of the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima’s legacy.

Museveni noted that Gen. Muhoozi might not want to blow his own trumpet.

“He may not talk about it because he may not want to boast, but I know. That is why I appointed him as commander of Land forces, because when I made him commander of SFC, there was money that was being used as ‘airtime’. If he wants, he can tell you how he converted ‘airtime’ into barracks without new money,” he said.

While taking over the office from Gen. Wilson Mbadi in March last year, Gen. Kainerugaba vowed to improve the welfare of soldiers by fighting the evils of corruption and mismanagement of resources.

Commending Mbadi for a job well done in building a modern, professional force, CDF Kainerugaba emphasised that having the best equipment, best uniforms, best education, best welfare, and best accommodation, among others, can only be achieved by fighting corruption and mismanagement of resources.

Citing inadequate defence budget allocation, the new CDF, while taking office, highlighted the need for vigilance, frugality, effective anti-corruption measures, and improvisation in countering extremist organisations (terrorists), sabotage, cross-border tensions, cybercrimes, and livestock theft, among others.

The Handover and Takeover ceremony, which took place in Gulu 4th Division Headquarters, was presided over by the Special Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security, and also Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, commonly known as Salim Saleh.