WAR OF WORDS as UPDF Raids Maj Kakooza Mutale’s Farm to Arrest Suspected Rebels

The mention of Maj (Rtd) Kakooza Mutale might remind many Ugandans of the notorious paramilitary, the Kalangala Action Plan, which meted electoral violence on Ugandans in the 2001 general elections. But Kakooza Mutale, who is now a senior presidential advisor on political affairs, was left shocked when those above him raided his farm to arrest suspected rebels he is said to have been training. 

There was panic in Matembe Village of Luwero District’s Kamira Sub County on Tuesday and Wednesday when UPDF officers raided the feared Kakooza Mutale’s farm. First, an aircraft flew in the space above the village in a manner that suggested that its occupants were after something in this location. As if to prove this suspicion, a few minutes later, UPDF officers raided Kakooza Mutale’s farm.

A convoy of senior army officer was later spotted heading to the retired major’s farm. It was this senior officer that grilled Mutale regarding allegations that he was training over 100 youths at his farm to start a rebel group with the view of removing President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government.

The senior UPDF officer reportedly made it clear to Kakooza Mutale that the training of these young people at his farm was a threat to national security and stability. The senior officer went on to fault Mutale for refusing to inform Luweero Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Richard Bwabye and the District Internal Security Officer (Diso) of the training.

It is understood that security intelligence were suspicious that the retired major could have been hiding something and might have had other motives besides equipping the young people with skills to drive them out of poverty.

There was confusion as Kakooza Mutale insisted that he had informed RDC Bwabye and other district security leaders of the training at the firm. In fact, driving in his official vehicle registration number UG 2166, Mutale stormed the RDC’s office to find out why the presidential envoy in the district had reportedly told the security officers that he had not been informed about the retired major’s training yet, as he claimed, he had written to the RDC informing him about the same.

Kakooza Mutale swore that he was not training the youths to become rebels but to rather equip them with skills in modern agriculture. He also claimed that even Gen Museveni was aware of his project and that the head of state had been to the firm where he even donated 100 cows. To further prove that his farm was not a rebel training camp, Kakooza Mutale also revealed that the king of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Omukama Rukirabasaija Agutamba Solomon Gafabusa Iguru will soon be a chief guest at a ceremony to pass out the trainees.

The drama would have gone on had Kakooza Mutale not shown how powerful he was by calling someone ‘above’ who issued orders for the senior military officer and his group to vacate the former paramilitary leader’s farm as soon as possible or risk provoking his wrath and be made to regret their actions.

Had Kakooza Mutale not sought help from ‘above,’ he would have arrested and airlifted in the same way former police chief Gen Kale Kayihura was picked from his Lyantonde farm. Since his arrest and trial in a military court, Kayihura’s life has changed. Months ago, first son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba begged his father Gen Museveni to forgive Kayihura. (See Details Here).

But it seems that the senior UPDF officer acted on wrong intelligence reports. Meanwhile, this is the second time in one week that security agencies are acting on ‘wrong’ or misleading intelligence. Just a few days ago, operatives of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) arrested 10 members of former minister Hajji Abdul Nadduli were arrested and detained for many hours on allegations that they took part in the raid on Busiika Police Station and that they had guns. (See Details Here).