In a mini shake-up within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), President Yoweri Museveni the Commander in Chief (CIC) has removed Maj Gen James Birungi from his position as head of military intelligence, now officially known as the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS)—formerly the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
He has been replaced by Maj Gen Richard Otto, the commander of the UPDF Mountain Division.
The surprise changes were communicated through official military channels late Tuesday evening, catching many in the security and political circles off guard.
Birungi had served as the intelligence chief since 2022, overseeing several sensitive operations, including internal counter-intelligence, foreign surveillance coordination, and Uganda’s intelligence efforts linked to Operation Shujaa in eastern DRC.
His replacement, Maj Gen Otto, brings extensive field experience to the role, having previously commanded UPDF operations in the Central African Republic, Somalia under AMISOM, and most recently, the Mountain Division based in Fort Portal.
Sources within the defence establishment suggest that the reshuffle comes in response to the intensifying fighting in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the UPDF is deployed to eliminate the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group and secure Uganda’s western border.
The two generals have effectively switched roles, with Maj Gen Birungi now taking command of the Mountain Division—a unit central to the ongoing joint operations with Congolese forces in the volatile eastern region.
Analysts say this reorganization may signal a strategic pivot by the military leadership, aimed at injecting fresh momentum into Uganda’s regional security posture and strengthening on-ground coordination in active combat zones.
The UPDF has yet to issue an official statement detailing the reasons behind the changes.
Col Chris Magezi, the acting UPDF spokesperson confirmed the news.
