Gen. Muhoozi’s probe into false intelligence is a good start—now let it go further

June 30, 2025 in Editorial by Editor

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, deserves credit for initiating an internal investigation into troubling incidents involving the fatal shooting of alleged suicide bombers by security operatives. The move signals a willingness, at the very top of the military command, to confront malpractice and restore credibility within the intelligence system of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). But this action, while commendable, must not stop at the tip of the iceberg. A much broader and more transparent review is needed—particularly concerning the use of intelligence in the prosecution and continued detention of suspects, many of whom remain in custody without trial.

The immediate trigger for the probe was two tragic incidents. On June 3, during Martyrs Day celebrations, two individuals reportedly en route to a terrorist act were killed in a mysterious explosion near Munyonyo Catholic Basilica. The army initially claimed credit for “neutralising” the threat. Yet surveillance footage later showed a spontaneous blast with no evidence of external engagement—raising doubts about the veracity of the official account.

Nineteen days later, another suspect—a young woman—was shot dead in Kalerwe. Security forces alleged she was preparing to detonate a suicide bomb in a crowded market. Again, this was someone they claimed to have tracked for days. If that were true, why not arrest her earlier?

These disturbing inconsistencies prompted Gen. Muhoozi to order a probe, which has since led to the arrest of six officers from the military’s intelligence wing. His actions are a crucial first step in addressing the rot within the system. They suggest a rare readiness to hold errant operatives accountable—a critical element in any professional security force.

However, rooting out false intelligence must go beyond a few high-profile cases. False intelligence is dangerous not just because it leads to the deaths of innocent people, but because it erodes public trust in security institutions, misallocates resources, and creates fertile ground for impunity. When left unchecked, it allows politically motivated arrests, fabrications, and even torture to flourish—often under the guise of national security.

This has particular relevance for Uganda’s penal and military justice systems. For years, numerous suspects—especially opposition political figures, activists, and government critics—have been arrested and detained based on questionable intelligence. Many have spent prolonged periods on remand without formal charges or trial. Others have faced trumped-up cases that drag on indefinitely in courts, their liberty denied on grounds of national security, backed by intelligence reports that are never scrutinised in open court.

The probe ordered by Gen. Muhoozi should therefore expand its scope. It must include a comprehensive audit of all ongoing and past cases built on intelligence from the military and associated agencies. Special attention should be given to cases that have failed to progress in court—especially those in which suspects were denied bail and where allegations of torture to extract confessions exist. If the intelligence system is now under review for manufacturing threats, it follows logically that evidence derived from it should not be automatically presumed credible.

Justice, in these circumstances, demands that suspects in such cases be released on bail pending the outcome of the intelligence review. To continue detaining individuals under a system whose credibility is under serious question would be not only a legal and moral failure but a humanitarian one as well.

This moment presents Uganda with a unique opportunity to begin healing the deep wounds caused by a weaponised security-intelligence apparatus. Gen. Muhoozi has shown leadership by confronting the problem. The next step is to show consistency and courage by applying the same scrutiny to the broader system. Only then can justice be restored—not just for the innocent killed in botched operations, but for all those still waiting in cells for justice that may never come.

Gen. Muhoozi’s action to detain officers linked to these cases deserves recognition. It is a bold and necessary move to protect the credibility of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. Yet the problem does not end with a few bad actors. The danger of false intelligence runs much deeper, and its consequences are both far-reaching and corrosive.

False intelligence is not merely a technical failure; it is a destabilising force. It inflames public fear and anxiety, especially when the perceived threat is amplified through official channels. It also lulls the state into a false sense of security, believing it has neutralised threats that may never have existed in the first place, while real dangers go unmonitored. And, crucially, it misdirects limited national resources—deploying personnel, logistics, and finances to chase ghosts rather than confronting tangible threats. In a region where every coin spent on security comes at the cost of schools and hospitals,  such misallocations are more than wasteful—they are unjust.

A state that relies on deception, however well-intentioned, to secure itself is ultimately building on sand. To truly safeguard Uganda’s future, the state must be as vigilant about truth as it is about threats. And that begins with ensuring that those tasked with protecting the country do not themselves become a source of fear and injustice.