Speaker Oboth-Oboth Blocks Parliamentary Debate on Detained UPDF Generals

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth has directed members of parliament to refrain from debating the detention of two retired senior military officers. The speaker ruled that military matters are never discussed on the plenary floor of any parliament, despite opposition attempts to bring up the issue.

The ruling followed a submission by chief opposition whip Paul Mwiru, who invoked Article 23 of the 1995 Constitution. Mwiru raised concerns that Maj Gen (Rtd) Abel Kandiho and Brig Gen (Rtd) Charles Bakahumura were being held incommunicado at an unauthorised location.

While maintaining that UPDF members operate under a distinct legal framework, Oboth-Oboth acknowledged that the minister of Defence could potentially be invited to address concerns raised by the officers’ families. Minister of Internal Affairs Ephraim Kamuntu subsequently undertook to make a statement on the arrests if the order of business permitted.

Kandiho and Bakahumura both previously headed the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence. They were among 19 generals formally retired in August 2026 at State House Entebbe, only to be detained in early September as part of a military investigation into alleged false intelligence reporting. The investigation has been linked to directives issued by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Although Muhoozi publicly announced Bakahumura’s release, the status of Kandiho remained unclear during the parliamentary proceedings.

Opposition legislators argued that the detentions violated constitutional guarantees of personal liberty and due process under Article 23. Conversely, security officials maintain that confidentiality is necessary to protect ongoing military investigations and discipline under the UPDF Act.

Read more details in the original report on The Observer.