PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni is known to have ruled this long because the army and security agencies have been to his side than his past predecessors.
So reports that the ongoing arrests of soldiers are being carried out by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura and Special Forces Command boss Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba without the involvement of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Katumba Wamala could undermine a good cohesion and trust among our forces.
Sources within say police and Special Forces are leading the arrests of UPDF soldiers and the army boss Gen. Katumba Wamala has been sidelined.
So far at least 30 soldiers including Col. Dan Opit Odwee, the Air Force garrison commander have been arrested by presidential guards and police.
“He doesn’t know what’s happening. All these arrests are being carried out by SFC [Special Forces Command] and police,” the source said.
Sources say Maj. Gen. Muhoozi and the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura are working with Chief of Staff Land Forces Brig. Leopold Kyanda to carry out the arrests.
Even the Military Intelligence is not involved in these arrests yet it is supposed key in investigations before these arrests are carried out.
It’s instead the intelligence unit in Special Forces that is the one investigating and ordering military police Commander Emmanuel Kanyesigye to effect the arrests.
This brings doubt to reasons given by police and the army spokesperson for the arrests. Why security agencies are not following the structures normally followed when soldiers are being arrested?
Some think Gen. Kayihura is said to be interested in becoming the next Chief of Defence Forces is undermining Gen. Katumba so that he replaces him as the army boss.
Already there are proponents of Kayihura, who reportedly worked so hard to undermine the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima as the CDF become the army boss.
At least 36 soldiers have been arrested from Bombo, Air defence in Nakasongola and other army units more arrests being carried out.
This could be the biggest number of UPDF soldiers being arrested for subversion ever since Museveni came to power. Col. Odwee’s son on Sunday said his father went missing and the family looking for him. Security agencies are linking these arrests to Kizza Besigye and the ex-spy chief Gen David Sejusa.
It’s not clear how the detained officer was subversive but Gen. Kayihura who is said to be working with Gen. Muhoozi to carry out the arrests have been ongoing in different army units.
Gen. Kayihura linked said Col.Odwee’s arrest to Nakawa MP, Michael Kabaziguruka who also arrested for subversion.
Dr Besigye, indicted for treason, is currently on remand at Luzira prison. He was arrested over the same charges in 2006 but later released and dozens of his supporters incarcerated on similar offences were later granted amnesty in exchange for incriminating Dr. Besigye while those that declined remained in prison, with the last PRA suspect released this year.
President Museveni has the grip over the army and other security agencies.
Col.Odwee is now in detention at Makindye military barracks for getting involved in subversive activities. The army spokesperson Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda said investigations are going.The officer who known to be fearless and combative has previously clashed with Gen. Muhoozi over allegations that he was harassing Special Forces living in Katabi barracks shared by both air force and Special forces.
Colonel Odwee is among the 30 soldiers already arrested by Special Forces and police in different army units. Last week the arms officer one Capt Ojara who was responsible for armoury in Bombo was also arrested last week.
