Finance Minister Hon. Matia Kasaija has requested for deployment of the military in all areas habouring Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) sites across the country which were adversely affected by the vandalism reported in a confidential security report.
According to a reliable source in the Ministry, Kasaija made the decision after reading internal Security Organisation file (ISO) which suggested that the vandalism was initiated by members of UTL who are opposed to the revival this entity.
The dossier signed by ISO head Col. Frank Kaka Bagyenda further indicated that some people were not happy with government’s efforts and therefore embarked on stealing and selling UTL copper network cables to Kenya.
The report says that in Kenya, the cables are re-melted and used to produce various copper products.
Some of the goods are exported to Uganda.
Kasaija was over the weekend meeting officials in Finance and other junior Ministers proposed that he will seek military assistance from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
“I will call the President to help us and provide soldiers who can guard UTL sites especially those that have not been vandalized to save our infrastructure,” Kasaija is quoted to have said.
The report claimed that however much UTL managers were notified on the countrywide vandalism, they expressed no concerns.
Kaka appealed to relevant Minister, State Minister for Investment and Privatization to compel UTL officials to act.
According to a source, Kasaija said the only way to curb this criminality was to invite the intervention of the UPDF, a revered, disciplined and most feared force on African soil.
UPDF spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire when contacted to confirm whether a request has been made to have the soldiers deployed to protect this infrastructure said he wasn’t aware. “I don’t know about that. I am not aware.”
