Brig. Gen. Ruheesi, three officers remanded over fuel theft

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Four senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers, including Brig. Gen. James Barigye Ruheesi have been charged and remanded to Makindye Military Barracks on allegations of misusing 270,000 litres of fuel meant for operations.

Ruheesi, 60, formerly the UPDF Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (URDC) commandant, was on Monday (April 27) charged alongside Col. David Ocitti Kidega, 52, formerly attached as Staff Officer Petroleum in Joint Services Logistics.

Others are Maj. Innocent Kikongi Mugumya, 41, formerly attached to URDC as a transport officer, and Capt. Kenneth Labwon Kinyera, 37, formerly attached to UPDF Joint Staff Health Services as a procurement officer.

The General Court Martial in Makindye, presided over by Chairman Brig. Gen. Richard Tukachungurwa charged the four senior UPDF officers with personal interests endangering operational efficiency, contrary to Section 122(b) of the UPDF Act Cap. 330, as amended.

The accused denied the offence, which attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.

“Have you heard and understood the charges preferred against you? Do you accept or deny the charge?” the court chairman asked. In response, the accused denied the charges.

The prosecution, led by Col. Raphael Mugisha, alleges that the accused, between July 2022 and December 2023 in Kampala and Jinja cities, misused about 270,000 litres of automotive gas oil for personal interest.

The fuel was meant for running heavy operational equipment of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability.

Mugisha was assisted by Capt. Alex Lasto Mukwana and Lt. Phillip Olupot. According to the prosecution, the accused are persons subject to military law.