Colonel Peter Ssemakula, a senior officer in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has been arrested and detained over corruption allegations linked to a $200 million military procurement deal.
Col. Ssemakula, who served as the Chief of Communications and IT (CCIT) in the UPDF, was taken into custody following an investigation into the controversial acquisition of Leopard 1 Wideband Military Software Defined Radios (SDR) from Satcom, a Namibian company.
While early reports on social media speculated and alleged that Col. Ssemakula had been involved in espionage suggesting he accepted a $300,000 bribe to leak classified military communication details official sources indicate that his arrest is linked to corruption in the procurement process.
UPDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye confirmed the arrest, stating, “Yes, it is true. According to my boss, Gen. Muhoozi, Col. Ssemakula was arrested for receiving a bribe related to the supply of communication equipment.”
Investigations revealed that Ambrose Mutafungwa, the local representative of Satcom, allegedly facilitated the $300,000 payment to Col. Ssemakula to influence the procurement process. As the officer in charge of military communications, he was responsible for justifying the purchase of the radios.
The procurement issue dates back to 2023, when Satcom proposed supplying the UPDF with Leopard 1 SDR radios, which are designed for military communication across multiple frequency bands, including High Frequency, Very High Frequency, and Ultra High Frequency. These radios were marketed as adaptable for portable, mobile, and base station applications.
Col. Ssemakula and then Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Wilson Mbadi traveled to Namibia to assess the equipment. Despite previous concerns that similar radios had overheating issues in Uganda’s jungle environment, the UPDF’s contracts committee, chaired by Gen. Mbadi, approved the $200 million deal, which later received President Yoweri Museveni’s endorsement.
Before the contract could be executed, President Museveni appointed Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the new CDF, replacing Gen. Mbadi. After assuming office, Muhoozi received intelligence about possible corruption in the radio procurement process and ordered an immediate investigation.
Reports indicate that Mutafungwa, who had received $1 million in commission from Satcom, was under pressure to refund some of the money after the deal was abruptly canceled. Seeking to recover his losses, he approached Gen. Muhoozi and disclosed that Col. Ssemakula had accepted a $300,000 bribe.
Upon learning this, Muhoozi ordered Ssemakula’s immediate arrest. During interrogation, the officer allegedly admitted to receiving the bribe and led military investigators to a witchdoctor, whom he had entrusted with the money. However, by the time authorities intervened, $80,000 had already been spent, leaving only $220,000 recoverable.
Corruption in Military Procurement
Col. Ssemakula has been detained at Makindye military barracks for over six months as investigations continue. His arrest has once again brought attention to corruption within the Ministry of Defence, where procurement processes are often tainted by kickbacks and inflated costs.
“There is a culture of taking at least 10 percent per deal it’s an open secret,” a military source revealed.
With investigations ongoing, Col. Ssemakula’s trial before the General Court Martial is expected to shed light on whether he acted alone or if other high-ranking officials were involved.
