By Ronaldo Kalangi
Recently, Ugandan Security agencies arrested and deported two top Managers of Telecommunications giant MTN Uganda on grounds of spying on Uganda and trading in sensitive security information that could compromise the security of the country.
The two were Chief Marketing Officer, Olivier Prentout from France and Head of Sales and Distribution, Annie Bilenge Tabura from neighboring Rwanda were deported immediately.
Prentout, was arrested by police at Entebbe airport upon arrival from a business trip abroad on Saturday while Tabura was arrested by unidentified security personnel upon arrival at the MTN headquarter offices, in Kololo. Police would later come in to clear air that MTN had been under investigation for some time. “This is to inform the general Public that security agencies in close coordination with immigration officials have been investigating two foreign nationals working with a leading Mobile Telecom Company over their engagements in acts which compromise national security,” Deputy police spokesperson Polly Namaye Said then.Now, Spy Uganda can authoritatively report that, MTN-Uganda bowed to pressure from security agencies and ejected Mr. Anthony Katamba, the General Manager Corporate Services.
Some officials from MTN who preferred anonymity told Spy Uganda that CMI, ISO and detectives from police have intensified their investigations on the company to make sure no further intelligence information leaks to the neighbouring countries.
‘’When Government got information there was information flowing to outside countries, they tightened up the nooze. That’s why currently Telecom companies are under scrutiny now, and infact MTN has been put on ‘class one’ security radar,” the source said.
It is said intelligence got information that Katamba was in close contact with some former staff who were deported for spying on this banana republic.
On the other hand, some staff revealed that Katamba was partly fired due to indiscipline and disrespect to his seniors at the work place.
At the beginning of this week, while celebrating Tare Sita at Defence Air force headquarters, Commander of Special Forces Maj.Gen.Don Nabasa revealed that all security agencies had garnered information of some elements of people trying to overthrow Museveni using internal information and external forces.
