Four Senior UPDF Officers Deny Diverting 270,000 Litres of Diesel
Kampala, Uganda – Four senior officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have been charged before the General Court Martial in Makindye with misconduct related to the alleged diversion of a large quantity of operational fuel for personal gain.
Brigadier General James Barigye Ruheesi, Colonel David Ocitti Kidega, Major Innocent Kikongo Mugumya, and Captain Kenneth Labwon Kinyera face charges of conduct prejudicial to operational efficiency, an offence under the UPDF Act.
The prosecution alleges that the officers misappropriated approximately 270,000 litres of diesel between July 2022 and December 2023 in the districts of Kampala and Jinja.
Appearing before a panel chaired by Brigadier General Richard Tukachungurwa, all four accused denied the charges. The court has since adjourned the case to May 29, 2026, for further mention.
The proceedings have drawn mixed reactions on social media platform X. While some users have commended the military for demonstrating internal accountability, others have criticised the process as being selectively applied.
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