An Israelite, a highly trained security expert whose names have been withheld because of the sensitivity of the matter, last year warned the regime that MTN Telecom was spying on government officials.
This Israelite was hired by Gen. Henry Tumukunde at a time he was a Security Minister whose record is well known for tightening noose on a neigbouring country that planned a surprise invasion on Uganda.
In fact, the appointment of Tumukunde, government officials say angered this country and further soared the already fragile relations.
This Isrealite who sits at Twin Towers (Office of the President) has an office whose entry is only restricted.
“It is only him that access his office. The small office is equipped with state of the art machines with latest technology in which he uses to execute his work,” a source said.
Using his expertise, the Israelite briefed his boss, then Tumukunde of MTN’s collaboration with a neighboring country.
He further warned that MTN top bosses could be funding and plotting to remove President Yoweri Museveni.
Against that backdrop, Tumukunde launched a clandestine investigation into the Israelite’s allegations.
But shortly before he could conclude his investigations, Tumukunde was relieved off his duties as Minister last year in March.
Known to have been collaborating with Director General Internal Security Organization (ISO), Tumukunde handed over the investigation Col Kaka Bagyenda.
At the peak of his investigation in July, Kaka commanded a raid on MTN’s data center in Mutundwe, disconnected the servers and arrested one officials in charge of the facility.
MTN reported a case of security breach to police, and since then the public had lost interest in the matter until Tuesday when police announced it had repatriated two of the telecom’s officials.
Those deported are Olivier Prentout a French national who worked as Chief Marketing Officer and Annie Tabura the head of sales and distribution.
Olivier was intercepted at Entebbe airport while Annie was arrested from MTN head offices.
Whereas their employer admits the duo was from a “business meeting abroad” this website can authoritatively report that they had attended a meeting in Rwanda.
However, the details of Rwanda meeting remain scanty.
Spying
After their deportation on Tuesday it emerged that MTN through its spin master had diverted the debate from ‘espionage’ to ‘money war’ between the company and government.
But this website learnt through security sources that the telecom’s woes hinge on its actions to ignite a rebellion by funding foreign groups.
A source says that Olivier and Anne handled very powerful positions that oversee details including accounts of several government officials and interconnection.
“You know many government officials use UTL lines and Airtel because of fear that MTN was compromised. So Annie’s department- sales handled that docket,” a source said.
A source further claimed that it was easy for Annie, a Rwandan, to compile all phone numbers of government officials her pay master was interested in.
“Each phone conversation these government officials had was tapped and diverted to Rwanda’s switch board,” a source claims.
However, this website couldn’t independently verify this accusation.
Annie had previously worked with MTN group in South Africa and later deployed in Rwanda from where she was sent to Uganda to execute a convert mission.
A source again challenged this website, why MTN would deploy Oliver Prentout a French national to a Common Wealth Country, Uganda.
Efforts to get a comment from MTN officials remain futile by press time.
Police Spokeswoman Polly Namaye maintained that the deportees were a security threat.
