UGANDA: Behind current army promotion, why Brig. Kandiho (CMI) is on way out

BEHIND THE CURRENT ARMY PROMOTION AND WHY BRIG. KANDIHO (CMI) IS ON HIS WAY OUT

CHANGE OF GUARDS - As usual, whenever there are shakeups in security circles, Museveni has come out to announce the promotion of over 13,000 army officers. This is meant to appease the dissatisfied officers whose helping hand may be sought by the affected bigwigs. Though retired, Gen. Tumukunde's influence within the security circles can’t be underestimated. Very soon we are to see a similar massive promotion in the former Uganda Police now called Military Police so as to hand the new police chief Brig. Sabiiti a team of loyal officers thus shifting allegiance.

Looking at the much publicized top six army Generals who have been promoted, there is only one person of significance. The current Deputy CMI Brig. Henry Isoke is being prepared to takeover from Brig. Kandiho. Brig. Kandiho is close to Gen. Tumukunde and together with their god fathers in the form of Gen. Saleh and others have been behind the support given to Rwandese dissidents. Top on the reasons for sacking Gen. Kalekyezi and Gen. Tumukunde is the Rwandese dissidents’ saga.

Gen. Kalekyezi and company were acting for Rwanda while Gen. Tumukunde and company were acting against Rwanda. While Rwanda had no Ugandan dissidents to support in return, Museveni feared the long-term Gen. Kalekyezi connection and other short term fatal remedies that Rwanda could opt to take. Diplomatic efforts and external relations advisors must have advised Museveni that sacking Kalekyezi alone would escalate Rwanda's fears and hence enhanced hostility. That is why Gen. Tumukunde had to go too and Museveni informed him in advance.

Depending on how Rwanda reacts over Gen. Kalekyezi's sacking and how Gen. Tumukunde handles the sacking too, if Museveni genuinely wants to resolve his differences with Kagame, Brig. Kandiho will have to leave CMI. He may not be sacked out right but may be sent on course so that the newly promoted Brig. Isoke takes over in acting capacity. Brig. Isoke hails from Tooro, graduate of Social Science from Makerere, joined the army around the late 1987, did basic intelligence training with the North Koreans at Kireka, did cadet officer training and for the last 30 years has served nowhere else other than under Military Intelligence.

Though he joined Military Intelligence at the time it was dominated by Rwandese and served at the Rwanda-Uganda border during the RPF war where he got a Rwandese wife, Brig. Isoke has no close links with Rwandese security managers more especially when the likes of Karegeya and Nziza are not in charge in Kigali. Though secret services have undermined his rigid character, he is sober, intelligent and a gentleman. Therefore, the list of the other five top Generals who were elevated with him were simply acting as wrapping papers for Brig. Isoke. Looking at the list, one sees useless promotion and a waster of time and resources.

What does Kasirye Gwanga and Rwabantu do in the army???? Can one proudly say that Buganda has eaten big with the promotion of Kasirye!!! It is just a boost of the welfare scheme and duping of gullible Ugandans. However, for the rest of the 13,000 middle cadre officers their promotion was meant to counter the potential negative consequences of the ongoing security shake up.

Therefore, the sacking of the two Generals had nothing to do with improving the deteriorating security situation. The person responsible for all the loopholes is Museveni and is still around. What the public perceives as the so called “failures" of the two Generals is what Museveni regards as their best accomplishments - keeping him in power. If it had not been for the Rwandese saga, the two would have remained in office.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND DEFIANTLY "HITTING ON THE HEAD" IS THE WAY TO GO