Two Foreigners who held powerful positions in MTN- Telecom were arrested and deported to their countries by Ugandan security authorities.
The affected are Olivier Prentout, a French citizen and Annie Tabura a Rwandan National.
According to statement from their employer, Olivier, the chief marketing officer was on January 19, intercepted by security as he returned from a business trip abroad. He was deported to his country.
Two days later, the head of sales and distribution Annie was also arrested upon arrival at MTN head offices in Kampala. She was also sent back to her country, Rwanda.
The development soars the already fragile diplomatic relations between the two East African landlocked countries.
Whereas MTN was unable to establish the security agency responsible for arresting its top employees, Uganda Police on Tuesday morning issued a statement owning the operation of arresting and deporting these foreigners.
Whereas it is the role of Immigration to carryout such an operation particularly deportation of foreigners, police spokeswoman Polly Namaye said the agency collaborated with Immigration office at the Interior Ministry.
She further acknowledges that the execution also involved in other sister agencies.
“Worked hand in hand with other security agencies and were finally arrested after realizing that that their engagements compromise national security,” Namaye said.
MTN- Uganda didn’t delve into ‘the why and how’ its workers had been repatriated, but rather was quick to express allegiance, “MTN Uganda, together with all its employees, remain fully committed to operating within and respecting the laws of the country,” a statement concluded.
Police however, couldn’t divulge more details in relations to the arrests when contacted.
“The information is in our intelligence database,” said Namaye.
Espionage
Whereas police was not at liberty to reveal to the marrow the cause of the arrest and deportation of these executives, a source said the duo had been suspected to be using their specialty to spy on the country particularly through tapping calls.
Pressed on to reveals the subject to which the duo were reporting to, our source in security declined saying the information is sensitive and could arouse diplomatic conflict between Uganda and other countries.
This source further said, Olivier and Annie had been placed on security radar for some good months and their movements monitored.
“While abroad, they were closely monitored by Uganda’s operatives from ESO who worked with ISO back here in Uganda.
Join Security Committee
A separate source at Internal Affairs (Immigrations) said, highly skilled state agents from Military Intelligence, ISO and Immigration Officers formed a joint Committee which reported directly to Army Heaquarters in Mbuya.
“The committee dispatched its boys to clandestinely establish what exactly Annie and Olivier were doing in Uganda, who sent them and why,” a source said.
The team would issue briefs until they gathered evidence to incriminate the two foreigners.
A source added that, security learnt of the BUSINESS TRIP the duo had taken who they met and the motive.
“Because their arrest would further deteriorate the already delicate situation between Uganda and her neighbor in the South West, the security chiefs unanimously agreed that repatriation would be the best option.
The security gurus fully involved in the operation are CMI’s Abel Kandiho and ISO Director General Kaka Bagyenda.
A source said, police was just asked to issue a statement as a procedure.
“In fact the statement was drafted my ISO,” said a source.
Asked to substantiate the information, army publicists Brig. Richard Karemire said, “Take what police has given you,” he ended the call.
Both Kaka and Kandiho couldn’t answer our repeated calls.
Immigrations spokesperson Jacob Simiyu when asked whether the army participated fully in the operations he queried the website’s motive of causing a conflict among security agents.
“Why don’t you ask police which issued a statement,” he said.