A corruption probe has shaken the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Air Force. Authorities placed one general under house arrest and detained another general with three colonels at Makindye Military Barracks. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces, ordered the crackdown after receiving intelligence about fraud in aircraft spare parts and fuel procurement.
Sources say officials misused billions of shillings meant for aircraft maintenance. They inflated prices or delivered fewer parts than ordered. In some cases, they took money but never delivered any parts at all.
Gen Muhoozi assigned Col Ddamulira Sseruyange, Director of Intelligence at Special Forces Command, to lead the investigation. The probe now includes both military officers and civilian staff in the supply chain.
Investigators want to know how the standard procurement system broke down. Normally, pilots or engineers report aircraft problems. The Squadron Commander reviews these reports and sends them to the Director of Engineering. If parts are not in stock, the Director requests them through the Chief of Staff. The under-secretary and permanent secretary then approve the purchase. A Receiving Committee checks the quality, quantity, and cost when parts arrive.
But someone bypassed or weakened these controls. The investigation team will check whether officers colluded to approve fake transactions. They will also review whether the military properly vetted some of the accused before promoting them last year.
Worryingly, the team is looking into links between these failures and recent aircraft crashes. Over the past three years, several UPDF planes have gone down. Key incidents include:
- September 2022: An MI-24 crash-landed on a house in Fort Portal.
- February 2021: A Jet Ranger crashed in Entebbe shortly after take-off, killing one trainee.
- January 2020: Another Jet Ranger crashed in Butambala, killing Maj Naomi Kalungi and Cadet Pilot Benon Wakola.
- August 2012: Three Mi-24 helicopters crashed on Mount Elgon while heading to Somalia.
Mechanical failure has not been confirmed in all cases. But sources suspect that missing or poor-quality spare parts led to poor maintenance—and possibly crashes.
When reporters contacted acting Director of Defence Public Information Col Chris Magezi, he said he did not know about the arrests. He asked for time to check with his superiors. He never called back. Later calls went unanswered by press time. The Daily Monitor withheld the names of the accused for legal reasons.
This crackdown matches Gen Muhoozi’s recent push for military discipline. A new 10-member General Court Martial panel is now in place. It shows a broader effort to enforce accountability.
This UPDF Air Force corruption case highlights serious risks in defence spending. If the allegations hold, Uganda may overhaul how it manages aviation budgets—and who controls them.
READ: Six Detained Over Impersonation in UPDF Recruitment in Nebbi
