Uganda Detains Two Senior Generals in Anti-Corruption Purge

Uganda has detained two senior army officers, Maj Gen Don William Nabasa and Brig Gen Johnson Namanya Abaho chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The move, part of wider military reshuffles, comes amid speculation about Muhoozi’s rising influence and ahead of President Yoweri Museveni’s seventh-term inauguration in May 2026.

Uganda has detained two high-ranking army officers in a sweeping move aimed at rooting out alleged corruption within the military, according to the state-owned news outlet New Vision. The arrests, which took place on Thursday night, involve Major General Don William Nabasa and Brigadier General Johnson Namanya Abaho, both acting under orders from the military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni.
The two generals are currently being held at a military facility, and neither has publicly responded to the allegations or their detention. Sources report that the arrests are part of a broader anti-corruption drive within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), targeting senior officers allegedly involved in misconduct or mismanagement. The military chief has also reportedly appointed a new deputy chief of military intelligence as part of the reshuffle, signaling a push to consolidate control and enforce accountability within the armed forces.
Maj Gen Nabasa held the position of joint staff for policy and strategy, a role critical for overseeing military operations and long-term planning. Brig Namanya had recently been recalled from his role as commissioner of citizenship and passport management, which handles crucial administrative and security functions in the country. The removal and detention of such senior figures mark a significant development in Uganda’s military hierarchy, reflecting both internal discipline measures and broader political undertones.
The crackdown comes amid ongoing speculation about the political ambitions of Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Promoted to head the UPDF in March 2024, he has been widely viewed as a rising power within Uganda’s security establishment. Despite this, President Museveni has publicly denied claims that his son is being groomed as his successor. The move to place top generals in custody may be interpreted as a demonstration of Muhoozi’s authority within the military, consolidating his influence over the country’s security apparatus.
President Museveni, who has been in power for more than four decades, is set to be sworn in for a seventh term in May after winning the January 2026 elections. Analysts suggest that this period of leadership transition, coupled with the anti-corruption measures in the military, could have significant implications for the balance of power within Uganda, the loyalty of its armed forces, and the country’s broader political stability.
Observers are closely monitoring the situation, as the arrests of Maj Gen Nabasa and Brig Namanya represent a rare and high-profile enforcement action at the top echelons of Uganda’s military, highlighting ongoing challenges in governance, accountability, and succession planning within one of Africa’s longest-serving administrations.