{UAH} Who is behind Kayihura, Gen Tumukunde fight

Written by Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda

 Created: 17 August 2016

 

In 2000, I think, Brig Elly Kayanja was appointed the deputy director of the Internal Security Organization (ISO) as Brig Henry Tumukunde's deputy.

The appointment of Kayanja, a modestly-educated Muganda, to deputize Tumukunde, an intellectual, was a big promotion. Having fought in Luweero and married from the same family as Mr Yoweri Museveni, Tumukunde was some sort of prince, until his incarceration for allegedly spreading harmful propaganda in 2005 (speaking against kisanja).

During his time at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), Tumukunde behaved as if the whole world was under his feet. He presided over the arrests and alleged torture of many Muslims mainly in Kampala. I once called him soliciting for a comment over a story I was filing for Daily Monitor and he, instead, intimidated me.

The story was about the arrest of Muslims. Tumukunde reminded me that he was in charge of military intelligence and capable of doing anything in the name of it. He lectured me and also offered to fly me to Egypt so I can appreciate the effect of terrorism. I don't know why he chose Egypt!

Every journalist who reported about military has a story to tell about Tumukunde: very powerful, full of contempt and arrogance. And those who reported about crime around the same time will tell you similar stories about Chris Bakiza – who was the director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at police. Part of what brought Tumukunde down was his war with Kayanja at ISO.

One time, Kayanja reported Tumukunde to Museveni over  the controversial purchase of land for a training facility along Entebbe road. To prove that the cost of the land had been inflated, Kayanja ferried the seller, an old man, to State House. I think the land had 'officially' been bought at about Shs 1 billion but the seller claimed he was given Shs 600 million.

Eventually, Tumukunde was removed from ISO and Kayanja replaced him. Tumukunde, being a 'prince', refused to hand over office and Museveni asked the prime minister then, Prof Apolo Nsibambi, to intervene. Nsibambi sought the help of Gen David Sejusa.

As soon as Tumukunde left, Kayanja, now the head of ISO, got involved in another conflict with the late Brig Noble Mayombo, who was the chief of military intelligence. Kayanja compiled a big report on Mayombo. We published part of the report in The Observer (I was still a reporter there) which landed us into trouble with Mayombo.

I have given you this background to help you appreciate the current bickering between the inspector general of police (IGP), Kale Kayihura, and the newly-appointed security minister, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde.

I think Kayihura must have been naïve not to expect this kind of conflict. Museveni has built Kayihura into a very strong state actor. Kayihura commands a budget of Shs 500 billion; is in charge of about 60,000 policemen/women, about a million crime preventers (militia), boda boda associations; and has progressively built a network of political connections.

Many NRM legislators have been aided by Kayihura to retain or lose their seats. Kayihura is a real power broker with resources and personnel. Because of his blind loyalty, Museveni has looked the other way when Kayihura has sinned. And it is time now to contain him so he doesn't become another Amama Mbabazi.

We have been ruled by Museveni for ages because of our individual and collective vulnerability. Gen Mugisha Muntu puts it well: that Museveni has and wants to remain the only centre of stability. The generals must all kneel before him for survival. I think with money and personnel, Kayihura had started feeling strong on his own.

That is why Mr Museveni, a man who enjoys conflicts among his servants, almost left him to deal with his own problems arising out of battering innocent souls on streets just because they waved at Col Besigye.

Remember, it is Kayihura and Ivan Koreta that were in command when many protesters were killed after the Kabaka was prevented from touring Kayunga in 2009. It is Kayihura who was in command when walk-to-work protesters were killed in 2011. It is the same Museveni that promoted Kayihura for work well done then that has now literally left him alone.

These are the lessons that all of us have failed to learn. Museveni uses people and when they have soiled themselves to the limit, he abandons them. That is why few sympathized with Gen Sejusa when things turned against him.

Remember how Sejusa persecuted Col Besigye by asserting in their meetings that "we must show that the state exists"? What about the persecution of Col Julius Chihandae and Col Ahmed Kashilingi on the orders of Sejusa?

It is now Kayihura's turn to pay and that is how Museveni works and pays. The wise thing is for Kayihura to apologize to everybody he has injured and seek quiet retirement. His scenes in this drama have come to an end.  

semugs@yahoo.com

The author is Kira Municipality MP.

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