The Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence is currently holding two Uganda People's Defense Forces-UPDF soldiers for obtaining money by false pretense. Captain Gerald Bitindi Byamugisha, attached to the Chieftaincy of Pensions and Gratuity in UPDF-COPG, and Captain Lamek M. Kimula, attached to the 65 Infantry Battalion as an Acting Adjutant, are the suspects in question.
It is alleged that in 2017 while in Kampala Capital City, Byamugisha and Kimula opened fictitious bank accounts, initially numbered 2043160022366 and later renewed to 204206051074101, in the name of late Major General James Kazini's widow, Mosiko Lela. The two falsely obtained 62 million Shillings from these accounts with the intention to defraud.
According to records, Byamugisha and Kimula were involved in abusing and stealing pension funds and survivor benefits of Kazini's widow during their service at COPG. The prosecution's evidence against the two suspects includes witness statements, such as those from the complainant and the civilians used to open the fraudulent accounts, and bank statements.
The suspects have not yet been arraigned before the General Court Martial to be formally charged with offenses related to swindling Kazini's pension. Byamugisha was arrested about four months ago from the Court Martial where he had gone to report for bond as a requirement on other cases related to swindling other people's pensions.
However, the Director of Prosecutions in UPDF, Lt Col Raphael Mugisha, has since written to the Director of Special Investigations Branch Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence to obtain crucial evidence needed for a successful prosecution.
This evidence includes statements from Col Deborah Nayebare regarding the Integrated Personnel and Pay Roll system-IPPS account, call data or phone printouts between the suspects and the civilians used to open the fraudulent accounts, and establishment from the accounts of the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs and Accounts Ministry of Finance Integrated Financial Management System-IFMS to determine how the complainant's account changed from Equity Bank to Pride Microfinance Bank and when the change occurred.
Major General James Kazini was killed by his then mistress Lydia Draru on November 10th, 2009, in Wabigalo Zone Makindye Division in Kampala district. Draru was charged with murder on November 16th, 2009, at Buganda Road Magistrates Court, and sentenced to 14 years in jail for manslaughter. She served her jail term and was released on January 12th, 2021, after a remission of four years for good conduct.
