Kampala, Uganda: The Chief of Uganda People’s Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sacked Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence Col Abdul Rugumayo and replaced him with Brig Gen Oscar Munanura in a fresh shake-up within the country’s powerful military intelligence apparatus.
The reasons for Rugumayo’s removal were not immediately disclosed on Friday afternoon when the news of his uneventful sacking made headlines, and by publication time, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) had not issued an official statement on the reshuffles.
Col Rugumayo had been serving as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS) since March 2022, following his appointment by President Yoweri Museveni to replace Brig Gen Charles Asiimwe, and he pledged to strengthen administrative discipline and operational efficiency within the intelligence unit.
During his tenure, Rugumayo worked under successive intelligence chiefs, including Maj Gen James Birungi, overseeing sensitive operations such as counterintelligence, internal security monitoring, and regional coordination.
His role placed him at the core of Uganda’s intelligence structure, which remains central to both domestic stability and cross-border security engagements.
His replacement, Brig Gen Oscar Munanura, is a seasoned intelligence officer who has been serving as Assistant Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security in charge of Counter-Intelligence.
Munanura was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General in February 2025, marking a rapid ascent within the UPDF’s intelligence hierarchy.
He previously served as Deputy General Manager of Kyoga Dynamics, a subsidiary of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), where he played a role in defence-industrial operations and strategic logistics planning.
Security sources describe Munanura as a key figure in Uganda’s evolving intelligence framework, with experience spanning both operational intelligence and military-linked industrial systems.
He has also been involved in regional security engagements, including intelligence contacts linked to armed groups such as CODECO in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting his role in cross-border intelligence coordination and peace-related efforts.
The latest changes come amid ongoing restructuring within Uganda’s military intelligence leadership.
In 2024, President Museveni appointed Maj Gen Richard Otto as Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, replacing Maj Gen James Birungi, who was redeployed to command the Mountain Infantry Division before later being arrested by the army.
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