{UAH} REBEL PRA- SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE?
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REBEL PRA - SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE?
In 2001, many Ugandans got disgusted with the state inspired harrassment and persecution for their support of the now exiled opposition leader Dr. Kiiza Besigye. They resorted to armed rebellion by taking advantage of the hostility between Rwanda and Museveni. Efforts to link with the LRA insurgents in the nothern region were made with the intention of involving them to bring about regime change and end the suffering of the people in that region. Leading opposition members facilitated these efforts. Winnie Byanyima and Beti Kamya facilitated the procurement and passing on of satelite phone sets and other communication gadgets to the the LRA. Unfortunately, the LRA top leadership did not uprehend the proposed alliance and had the opposition liaison man, Opoka killed thus ending any contact with LRA. A well organised popular network was set up throughout the country.
Towards the end of 2001, recruits composed of former civillians, former soldiers and deserting army officers were leaving Uganda and crossing to Rwanda via Kabale and Rwentobo in Ntungamo. In Rwanda, the recruits were housed in safe houses in different parts of Kigali city. Unlike the Museveni rebellion of 1981, within such a short time the dissidents in Rwanda had attracted Doctors, Lawyers and other proffessionals in their ranks. However, the dissidents in Rwanda made some blunders. The errant Kyakabale had publicly announced the formation of a rebel group. All the rank and file were allowed free access to telephose services whereby the reckless ones would randomly call some of their former colleagues in the NRA. In the process it became an open secret within the NRA that the dissidents were making contacts with serving officers. This development prompted the CMI to intensify its telephone conversation monitoring mechanism that scared away a number of serving officers. Col. Waswa aka Balikalege and Col Peter Kerim among others were contacted. When he was contacted, Kasirye Gwanga as usual informed the authorities and he was given a go-ahead to continue with the links while updating his masters. Kasirye Gwanga even maintained contact with Rwanda's Director of External Security.
The dissidents would get all the intelligence they needed from Uganda through the established framework of Rwanda's external intelligence structures. With the availability of timely and accurate intelligence, the dissidents had the most lethal weapon that gave Museveni sleepless nights. Most disturbing was that even Dr. Besigye who was in exile in South Africa would while appearing on radio talk shows demonstrate that he was updated on developments within the NRA. This development accounted for the so called 'spy scandals' during that period. Museveni got convinced that the opposition and the dissidents in particular had invaded his power base, the army. The outraged and desparate Museveni ran to the UK government to seek their indulgence. The UK Secretary for Oveseas Development, Claire Short mediated talks between Kagame and Museveni. After a few rounds of talks, it was agreed that the two countries should relocate the respective army officers that they were harbouring against each other. Rwanda relocated Col. Mande, Col. Kyakabale, Capt. Kabali Masembe and a few other officers to Sweden. Uganda relocated Major Fuluma and Maj. Mupende to Canada. Tension seemed to ease abit but it was not over. During one of the follow up trips to the UK, Col Mande came face to face with Noble Mayombo in the transit lounge of JK Airport in Nairobi as the former was heading for Sweden.
Col. Edison Muzoora who had not been formally declared by Rwanda, took over command of the rebel dissidents in Kigali. The dissidents were transfered to Kabuga a few kilometres outside Kigali for military drills. Around February 2003, Col. Muzoora led a team of dissidents to establish bases in Ituri province of Congo. At the time Rwanda had taken over control of that area. Earlier on ISO Chief Brig Henry Tumukunde had infiltrated the group by sending in Maj. Tom Mugizi and Capt Kiwanuka. Because Muzoora had earlier been in Ituri as a sector Commander during the NRA orchestrated Hema-Lendu clashes, the Lendu militias, local Hema leaders and Bosco Ntaganda attacked their bases. Some were killed, a few escaped and the captured ones handed over to Kaihura who had been in waiting for the catch. Muzora was evacuated by helcopter back to Kigali. The captives were brought to Kampala and detained without trial because among other reason their confessions did not mention Dr. Besigye. Maj. Mugizi and Capt Kiwanuka were temporarily hidden in a safe house next to Gwanga's Makindye residence. Later on Mugizi was briefly asigned to the Passport office before proceecing to South Africa. The project continued under Muzora but with the coming on board of Aronda and Kaihura coupled by internal division in the Rwanda army, around early 2006 Rwanda abandoned the entire project and dissidents scattered.
Towards the end of 2001, recruits composed of former civillians, former soldiers and deserting army officers were leaving Uganda and crossing to Rwanda via Kabale and Rwentobo in Ntungamo. In Rwanda, the recruits were housed in safe houses in different parts of Kigali city. Unlike the Museveni rebellion of 1981, within such a short time the dissidents in Rwanda had attracted Doctors, Lawyers and other proffessionals in their ranks. However, the dissidents in Rwanda made some blunders. The errant Kyakabale had publicly announced the formation of a rebel group. All the rank and file were allowed free access to telephose services whereby the reckless ones would randomly call some of their former colleagues in the NRA. In the process it became an open secret within the NRA that the dissidents were making contacts with serving officers. This development prompted the CMI to intensify its telephone conversation monitoring mechanism that scared away a number of serving officers. Col. Waswa aka Balikalege and Col Peter Kerim among others were contacted. When he was contacted, Kasirye Gwanga as usual informed the authorities and he was given a go-ahead to continue with the links while updating his masters. Kasirye Gwanga even maintained contact with Rwanda's Director of External Security.
The dissidents would get all the intelligence they needed from Uganda through the established framework of Rwanda's external intelligence structures. With the availability of timely and accurate intelligence, the dissidents had the most lethal weapon that gave Museveni sleepless nights. Most disturbing was that even Dr. Besigye who was in exile in South Africa would while appearing on radio talk shows demonstrate that he was updated on developments within the NRA. This development accounted for the so called 'spy scandals' during that period. Museveni got convinced that the opposition and the dissidents in particular had invaded his power base, the army. The outraged and desparate Museveni ran to the UK government to seek their indulgence. The UK Secretary for Oveseas Development, Claire Short mediated talks between Kagame and Museveni. After a few rounds of talks, it was agreed that the two countries should relocate the respective army officers that they were harbouring against each other. Rwanda relocated Col. Mande, Col. Kyakabale, Capt. Kabali Masembe and a few other officers to Sweden. Uganda relocated Major Fuluma and Maj. Mupende to Canada. Tension seemed to ease abit but it was not over. During one of the follow up trips to the UK, Col Mande came face to face with Noble Mayombo in the transit lounge of JK Airport in Nairobi as the former was heading for Sweden.
Col. Edison Muzoora who had not been formally declared by Rwanda, took over command of the rebel dissidents in Kigali. The dissidents were transfered to Kabuga a few kilometres outside Kigali for military drills. Around February 2003, Col. Muzoora led a team of dissidents to establish bases in Ituri province of Congo. At the time Rwanda had taken over control of that area. Earlier on ISO Chief Brig Henry Tumukunde had infiltrated the group by sending in Maj. Tom Mugizi and Capt Kiwanuka. Because Muzoora had earlier been in Ituri as a sector Commander during the NRA orchestrated Hema-Lendu clashes, the Lendu militias, local Hema leaders and Bosco Ntaganda attacked their bases. Some were killed, a few escaped and the captured ones handed over to Kaihura who had been in waiting for the catch. Muzora was evacuated by helcopter back to Kigali. The captives were brought to Kampala and detained without trial because among other reason their confessions did not mention Dr. Besigye. Maj. Mugizi and Capt Kiwanuka were temporarily hidden in a safe house next to Gwanga's Makindye residence. Later on Mugizi was briefly asigned to the Passport office before proceecing to South Africa. The project continued under Muzora but with the coming on board of Aronda and Kaihura coupled by internal division in the Rwanda army, around early 2006 Rwanda abandoned the entire project and dissidents scattered.
Posted by Uganda - A Change of Guards! a
Viele GruBe
Robukui
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