In a shocking turn of events, a UPDF soldier, Col. Patrick Ssemakula, was arrested on June 24, 2024, for allegedly accepting a $300,000 (shs 1 billion) bribe from a Southern African Development Community (SADC) country to monitor army communications.
Col Ssemakula served as the Chief of Communications and IT (CCIT) of UPDF.
The incident highlights the pervasive corruption within the UPDF, but also underscores the efforts of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba to root out graft within the military.
Gen Muhoozi, who took over as Chief of Defence last year vowed to improve the welfare of soldiers by fighting corruption and mismanagement of resources.
This commitment is evident in the swift action taken against Col. Ssemakula, who was detained at Mbuya go down, a UPDF detention center, and later released after returning the bribe money.
The UPDF has been plagued by corruption, with President Museveni himself decrying the practice and its detrimental impact on operational efficiency.
However, under Gen Muhoozi’s leadership, the military has taken concrete steps to address the issue.
Gen Muhoozi’s anti-corruption push is part of a broader effort to professionalize the UPDF and improve its effectiveness.
As CDF, he has tackled comprehensive national security, including threats from extremist organizations, cybercrime, and livestock theft.
The arrest and subsequent release of Col. Ssemakula serve as a warning to other corrupt officials within the UPDF. As Gen Muhoozi continues to drive his anti-corruption agenda, it is clear that those found guilty of graft will face consequences.
In a statement, released Monday Jan 3, Andrew Mwenda a veteran journalist revealed that Gen Muhoozi had informed him of the incident, highlighting the CDF’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the military, but also underscores the importance of Gen Muhoozi’s anti-corruption efforts.
“Been talking to the CDF, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, about his struggle to clean up corruption in UPDF and the ministry of defense generally. He would like to inform Ugandans that the army arrested the Chief of Communications and IT (CCIT) of UPDF because he had been paid $300,000 by a SADC country to monitor army communications. After his arrest, he paid all the money back to UPDF,” Mwenda posted on social networking site X, but declined to reveal the names.
As the UPDF continues to evolve and adapt to emerging threats, Gen Muhoozi’s leadership will be crucial in ensuring the military remains a trusted and effective institution. The crackdown on corruption is a step in the right direction, and one that will ultimately benefit the people of Uganda.