Brigadier General Oscar Munanura has been promoted to the rank of Acting Major General and appointed the new Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
His appointment was made by the Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Munanura takes over from Major General Richard Otto, who has been seconded to the Joint Staff Human Resource Management for redeployment.
Before his appointment, Munanura served as Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security under Otto, placing him in a senior position within the UPDF’s military intelligence structure.
Munanura’s rise through the army’s intelligence leadership has accelerated in recent years. In February 2025, he was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General and appointed Assistant Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, where he was responsible for counterintelligence.
In March 2026, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, replacing Brigadier General Abdul Rugumayo.
His military career has also included responsibilities outside the intelligence directorate. Before taking up his recent intelligence roles, Munanura served as Deputy General Manager of Kyoga Dynamics, a subsidiary of the UPDF’s commercial arm, the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC).
At Kyoga Dynamics, he was involved in defence-industrial operations and logistics, giving him experience in areas beyond military intelligence.
Munanura has also been involved in regional security engagements, including intelligence-related contacts concerning armed groups operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
His appointment as Acting CDIS places him at the head of the UPDF’s military intelligence and security structure. The office is responsible for gathering and analysing intelligence, counterintelligence and assessing security threats relevant to the country’s defence.
