By Alex B. Atuhaire & Emmanuel N. Mugarura
June 11, 2003
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Tension engulfed the Internal Security Organisation offices at Nakasero yesterday when the former ISO chief Brig. Henry Tumukunde initially refused to hand over to Col. Elly Kayanja. Brig. Tumukunde reportedly said that he needed an explanation from the appointing authority as to why he was sacked. In the confusion, the new ISO chief called in the Presidential Advisor on Military Affairs Lt. Gen. David Tinyefuza, who arrived shortly with a truckload of armed escorts. Lt. Gen. Tinyefuza immediately entered Brig. Tumukunde's offices. The Chief of Military Intelligence Col. Noble Mayombo, Army MP Lt. Gen. Elly Tumwine and the new security minister, Ms Betty Akech, had also arrived to witness the delayed hand-over. Lt. Gen. Tinyefuza reportedly told Brig. Tumukunde that he could not question the powers of the president and commander in chief to sack him. "Who are you to question the president on deployment? Why didn't you ask him to explain why he appointed you?" Lt. Gen. Tinyefuza reportedly said. After a hastily arranged meeting in the ISO boardroom, Brig. Tumukunde reportedly accepted to hand over to Col. Kayanja, but not before he complained: Tinyefuza to arrest him had he remained stubborn. Mr Museveni had reportedly also instructed that the Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi and senior army officers led by lieutenant generals Tinyefuza, Tumwine and Salim Saleh all move in to ensure that Brig. Tumukunde handed over to Col. Kayanja without any further delay. At the initial official ceremony at 10 a.m., Brig. Tumukunde handed over most of the things except the organisation's bank statements and two operation cars. That ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Nsibambi and the Minister of Internal Affairs Ruhakana Rugunda. Others were permanent secretaries for Internal Affairs Stephen Kagoda and President's Office Tecla Kinalwa. Inside ISO sources said that Lt. Gen. Tinyefuza later left but after instructing Brig. Tumukunde to hand over all ISO property, including the two vehicles that he claimed were in the field. He was also instructed to hand in bank statements and files that he had said were not ready and conclusive. Lt. Gen. Tinyefuza promised to return to Nakasero at 5 p.m. to check whether Brig. Tumukunde had fully complied. Brig. Tumukunde finally handed over all the property and the bank statements at about 6 p.m. The hand-over ended a long weekend ordeal for Brig. Tumukunde who was dropped as ISO chief last Friday. His subordinates greeted his removal with celebrations at the former Operation Wembley headquarters in Nakasero. They reportedly feasted on roast goat meat and alcohol late into Friday night. |
© 2003 The Monitor Publications
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