REVEALED: How Kagame, Muhoozi Kainerugaba Sealed Maj Gen Abel Kandiho’s Fate in Kigali Meeting

Jan 26, 2022

President Paul Kagame, fired CMI commander Maj Gen Abel Kandiho and Museveni's son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Fresh details are emerging on the sacking of Maj Gen Abel Kandiho, the hitherto Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

On January 25, it emerged that Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, the commander-in-chief of armed forces, had fired Maj Gen Kandiho as CMI commander.

Museveni appointed Maj Gen James Birungi.

Maj Gen Kandiho will now go to South Sudan to monitor the assembling, screening, demobilization, and integration of the armed forces on behalf of the guarantors.

It is this job that Maj Gen Birungi has been doing.

Birungi had previously served as the commandant of SFC.

Maj Gen Kandiho’s demotion comes a few months after the US slapped sanctions against him.

It also comes a few days since President Paul Kagame of Rwanda met President Museveni’s son, also UPDF Land Forces Commander, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, met in Kigali, Rwanda, at the weekend.

After the meeting, Lt Gen Kainerugaba and Kagame delivered good news to Rwandans and Ugandans on the restoration of relations between the two countries.

For years now, the relations between Kampala and Kigali have remained cold.

Rwanda has accused Uganda of, among other things, of using CMI, including under Kandiho, of kidnapping and torturing Rwandans in Uganda.

In one report, a Rwandan woman accused CMI of detaining her in a toilet for two weeks.

Since the closure of Katuna/Gatuna border in 2019, Kagame and Rwandan negotiators have insisted on the firing of CMI boss Kandiho.

The issue of his sacking is said to have been discussed in Kainerugaba-Kagame meeting at the weekend.

There are also reports that Kagame made the sacking of Kandiho one of the conditions for the restoration of relations between Kigali and Kampala.

According to former ISO chief of political intelligence, Kagame had to ensure that Kandiho is out.

“Of course Mr Paul Kagame having been in CMI and knowing how critical CMI was in organizing against President Habyarimana, Abel Kandiho had to leave,” wrote Rwomushana.

With Kandiho out now, it remains to be seen on whom Museveni’s axe will swing next, in relation to the Kigali-Kampala crisis.

Meanwhile, Museveni appointed a new deputy IGP.

Museveni has also fired CID director Grace Akullo.

Also fired is State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) head Col Edith Nakalema.