Allegations. Military sources say the intelligence officer was summoned over information that he dropped placards in Kampala last week warning people of pending violence.

A senior Internal Security Organisation (ISO) officer has been interrogated by military police over his alleged support for Amama Mbabazi’s purported presidential bid in 2016.
Mr Emmanuel Katabazi, who has worked closely with former Prime Minister Mbabazi for a long time, was summoned and appeared before the Military Police headquarters in Makindye, Kampala and was interrogated for hours.
Army spokesperson Paddy Ankunda confirmed Katabazi’s interrogation, saying the intelligence officer was “involved in funny things”.

“It’s true he was summoned, cautioned and discharged. We were acting on information that he was involved in funny things,” Lt Col Ankunda said.
Lt Col Ankunda did not clarify the “funny things” the ISO officer was involved in, but military sources said Mr Katabazi was summoned over information that he was the one who dropped placards in town last week, warning people to store fuel and food in anticipation of violence.

Military sources said besides the placards, Mr Katabazi, had been covertly mobilising support for Mbabazi’s 2016 bid, contrary to the army rules and regulations.
Mr Katabazi could not be reached for a comment as his mobile phone was off, but sources in the army and ISO said he was interrogated before being discharged with a warning to desist from “actions prejudicial to good conduct and order of the UPDF”.

The placards were dropped around Kampala Serena Hotel, Parliament Avenue and Constitutional Square a day after Mr Mbabazi was sacked as Prime Minister in a solitary reshuffle by President Museveni on September 18.

Police collected the placards and Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said they were investigating boda boda riders who dropped the scaremongering posters.
Mr Katabazi has worked in ISO for more than a decade including serving as District Internal Security Officer for Kampala and Arua.

The withdrawal of guards
On Thursday, a contingent of Military Police under Brig Leo Kyanda, the Chief of Staff for Land Forces, stormed Mbabazi’s residence in the upscale suburb of Kololo and withdrew his army guards who were replaced by police escorts.

At least 40 soldiers were guarding Mbabazi’s home in Kololo.
They were taken to Bombo army headquarters for redeployment.
However, two of them- Staff Sergeant Ahmed Baluku and Staff Sergeant Simon Mawadri- were taken to the army’s Special Investigations Bureau for interrogation immediately after arrival at Bombo. Also the home of Mbabazi’s driver, Warrant Officer II Sam Matovu, who was also withdrawn together with the guards, was searched by military personnel at 2am on Friday.

Amama’s sacking
President Museveni in a lone reshuffle on September 18 dropped Mr Mbabazi as Prime Minister, replacing him with Health minister Ruhakana Rugunda.
Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, giving an insight into the possible cause for the lone reshuffle, said Mr Mbabazi was paying a price for refusing to keep his word of resigning as NRM secretary general.

However, there has also been a simmering political rivalry within NRM with President Museveni’s loyalists accusing Mr Mbabazi of harbouring ambitions to stand for presidency in 2016, an allegation Mr Mbabazi denies.

Source: Monitor