INVESTIGATION: Museveni Probes Motive Behind ISO’s ‘Coup Dossier’

By Chimp Investigations Team

President Museveni earlier this year authorised an in-depth investigation into an alleged plan to remove him from power by force of arms, Chimp Corps report.

Museveni was informed that some high ranking army officers planned to kill him during the NRM delegates conference at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole after which power would be seized.

According to a high ranking official, who preferred anonymity as this is a highly confidential matter, said the report on the alleged coup was authored by Internal Security Organisation (ISO).

The report was handed to president Museveni by ISO Director General, Kaka Bagyenda.

However, Museveni was tipped that the report was based on “untruths” and “fabrications”.

The president’s closest associates advised him to “ignore” the intelligence report.

Considering the sensitivity of the matter, Museveni went ahead to direct a covert investigation into the claims.

The investigation, which lasted three months, sought to establish the veracity and motive of the claims.

Multiple sources told ChimpReports that the intelligence dossier was prepared by the head of ISO’s cyber department, Simon Peter Odongo.

Odongo was recently picked from his home by military intelligence operatives who were investigating the theft of COVID-19 relief items.

He is said to have been injured during the arrest, leading to his admission at Bombo military hospital.

On recovery, Odongo was taken to the UPDF General court Martial in Makindye where he was charged with espionage; illegal possession of firearms and military uniform.

A 45-day investigation by ChimpReports has established that Odongo said in multiple reports that a group of UPDF Generals close to the president were planning a coup.

He even mentioned other close associates of the president as being part of the mission.

Before Kaka took the report to president Museveni, many of his juniors warned him that Odongo’s claims were “just fiction.”

Kaka was given multiple examples of forgeries previously presented to him by Odongo but turned a deaf ear.

Odongo is the operative who claimed to have hacked into satellite communications in United Arab Emirates to listen Gen Kale Kayihura’s private conversations after AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi’s murder.

A police-led joint security probe established by the president to probe Kaweesi’s assassination concluded that Odongo was not only fabricating evidence to implicate Kayihura but also had never studied Information Technology as he claimed in his academic documents.

ChimpReports contacted some of the Generals mentioned in the report.

“That man is a criminal fraudster,” said a General who preferred anonymity to speak freely, adding, “We know exactly who is behind him.”

A source in the military said Odongo was being used by local and foreign entities to sow discord in the army.

“He was part of the disinformation campaign. By spreading such false rumours, they create intrigue and friction among senior officers – some of whom are close to the president. Those who are investigated become demoralized. And as the institution concentrates on these falsehoods, you can hardly focus on local and external threats. It’s more or less like sabotage,” an officer told ChimpReports.

Contacted, Uganda’s Defence spokesperson Brigadier Richard Karemire said the army “really has no time for rumours. That cannot give us sleepless nights. Pettiness has no room in UPDF.”

Informed that such reports fuel divisions in the army ranks, Karemire said the force has “internal mechanisms of handling these matters. For us we are focused on issues which matter including fighting COVID-19, locusts and floods in Kasese and regional integration.”

Asked if an investigation had established the motive behind Odongo’s reports, Brig Karemire observed: “These are small issues. Those whose duty is to know what’s behind that Lugambo (rumour) will be known. Defence will not be derailed by rumours.”

We’ve also established that during the investigation into Odongo’s activities, troves of documents, phones, computers and laptops were recovered from his residence and place of work.

“They are being studied. But most of the documents retrieved show that someone was behind Odongo. Whoever was using him had the intention of destabilizing Uganda. The president now wants a deeper study of Odongo’s activities since he joined ISO about three years ago,” said a source.

This website is aware that security and screening was tightened during the January NRM conference at Namboole amid the rumours of subversion.