By Frank Kamuntu
In a country long plagued by whispers of high-level graft, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), is proving that true leadership requires more than just command — it demands courage, integrity, and the will to confront entrenched rot.
Since his appointment as CDF in 2024, Gen. Kainerugaba has made it clear that corruption has no place in Uganda’s armed forces, and he is backing his words with decisive action. In recent weeks, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have witnessed an unprecedented internal cleanup, as top-ranking officers suspected of misappropriation, deception, and sabotage are arrested and investigated.
“There will be no mercy for the corrupt,” the General declared while presiding over a graduation ceremony at Uganda Air Force College on July 3, 2025. That statement, thunderous and unwavering, has resonated deeply with citizens tired of excuses and inaction.
Kainerugaba’s directive to probe “flagrant acts of disinformation and deception” reflects his zero-tolerance approach. Investigations reveal that some rogue officers allegedly staged fake terrorist incidents to manipulate national security budgets — a revelation that is not only shocking, but deeply disturbing.
Such conduct, the General has warned, is not only criminal but treasonous, as it directly threatens the lives of Ugandans and undermines the credibility of the UPDF, an institution that has stood as the pillar of Uganda’s peace and sovereignty.
The General Who Puts Soldiers First
But Gen. Kainerugaba’s leadership goes beyond discipline and accountability — it is people-centered and patriotic. From improving soldiers’ welfare, increasing salaries, building decent housing units, and providing quality meals, to investing in sports and morale-building activities, Kainerugaba has repositioned the UPDF as a force where service is not only duty but honour.
In the context of Uganda’s classified security budget, where oversight must be handled with utmost moral integrity, the General’s stance on transparency and accountability is especially critical. Every year, security consumes the lion’s share of the national budget — a justifiable allocation for a country that must guard its borders and remain a regional stabilizer.
Uganda’s peace is often taken for granted by many, especially the younger generation. Yet under Gen. Muhoozi’s watch, the country continues to serve as a regional safe haven, hosting millions of refugees from South Sudan, DR Congo, Somalia, Eritrea, and beyond. Uganda is not just a peaceful country — it is Africa’s top refugee host, and the third-largest globally, a status rooted in consistent security and political stability.
This peace, however, is not automatic. As Scripture reminds us in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Uganda’s continued peace is the fruit of dedicated, watchful, and morally upright leadership at the helm of its security architecture.
As Ugandans reflect on this renewed sense of accountability in the army, many are now looking to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as a symbol of transformative leadership — bold, disciplined, and unapologetically anti-corruption. In a time when many leaders hide behind rhetoric, Muhoozi is showing that real change starts with action.
By rooting out rot from within, he is not just cleaning up the UPDF — he is restoring public trust in one of Uganda’s most sacred institutions.
As the dust settles and justice follows its course, one thing is clear: the army is no longer a playground for the corrupt. The General has drawn the line — and Uganda is safer for it.
Credit: Josepha Jabo | Uganda Media Centre.