Government spy asks Museveni to fulfil 24-year promises

Disgruntled. Lt John Harrison Obote. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

What you need to know:

  • According to Article 20 of the UPDF Act, 2005, the promotions of officers are handled by the Commissions Board.

KAMPALA. A spy attached to Internal Security Organisation (ISO) has petitioned President Museveni to honour promises made to him 24 years ago, which among other things, pledged to have him promoted, given a house and a vehicle.
In a letter to President Museveni, dated January 12, Lt John Harrison Obote says he is living a “ life of suffering” because of the unfulfilled promises.

The letter was planned to be handed to President Museveni by Ms Gloria Ayot, the daughter of the petitioner, during a memorial service for the late Bernard Lagony at Koch-Goma Village in Nwoya District last Friday, but she was reportedly blocked from entering the venue with the letter.
The late Lagony was Lt Obote’s uncle who together with Okot Ogony were reportedly killed by Lord’s Resistance Army rebels during a peace mission to the bush in 1999. Lt Obote then took over from them to continue with a similar peace mission.

“Your Excellency, you promoted me to the rank of Lieutenant in 1991 and up to now you have never promoted me [again] and many of my comrades are Generals,” Lt Obote states in his letter.
Lt Obote, 55, a father of eight, says in his petition that he once served at the rank of Lieutenant with former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Charles Angina, under the command of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who was then a Captain in the National Resistance Army, the forerunner of the UPDF.

He said the President first made the promises during their meeting at his country home in Rwakitura in 1993 and repeated it during a meeting in Mpigi District in 2004.
“You told me that I should work with you and you will not give me money because if you gave me money, I would relax and not do government duties. Later you asked me to take the position of District Administrator, but I told you that was too political. You only appointed me in Internal Security Organisation,” Lt Obote adds in his petition.

Now, Lt Obote, who is struggling with illnesses, wants the President to promote him to any rank in the army, build him a house, buy him a lorry, educate his children, buy for them a house in Kampala and also give the family money for welfare.
Lt Obote was handed the first promise in 1991 as a reward for accepting to be the first State witness in a treason case, Uganda Vs Moses Ali and others in which the then rebel leader was convicted.

Moses Ali was to be given a presidential pardon later and went on to become a General in the UPDF and also first deputy Prime Minister.
Then after delivering the parents of Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony to Sudan capital, Khartoum to speak to their son in a bid to convince him out of rebel activities in 1999, Lt Obote in 2004 was told government would fulfill the earlier promises.
“When I took the parents (of Kony) and they spoke to their son and since 1999 to date, Uganda and Sudan are in total peace from the hand (of) LRA rebels” he wrote.

Lt Obote, who also claims that some State agents in 1999 cheated him of $100,000 (about Shs364m at current exchange rate) gift from the Jimmy Carter Foundation for his peace mission to Sudan, yesterday said that he feels he is being “punished” for his good service to the country.
“Those recruited in the army recently have good houses, drive posh cars, but I still live in a rented house. I also cannot afford transport from home in Kirinya, Bweyogerere to work at ISO offices in Nakasero,” Lt Obote lamented.

Ms Ayot yesterday said the family wants their father to be heard out because they have suffered a lot since he has been disabled for a long time and surviving on his meagre Shs700,000 monthly salary.
“My mother and I on Friday (January 12,) failed to give the letter to the President when he was in our village in Nwoya because those at the gate searched us and confiscated it, saying we would disrupt his peace at the function. Our family has been ignored for so long despite all these promises,” Ms Ayot said.
The Customs Clearing and Forwarding diploma student said since their father broke his leg while on a peace mission to LRA hideouts in Sudan, the welfare of the family has never been good.

UPDF responds
When contacted, UPDF spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, said Lt Obote should address his concerns to the supervisor of the unit in which he serves.
“Let him go to the unit supervisor because every soldier has a unit. The unit supervisor must be having an answer to why he has never been promoted. The answer to such complaints cannot be got from the newspapers,” Brig Karemire said.

State House yesterday said Lt Obote’s case has not yet been brought to the attention of the President officially.
The senior presidential press secretary, Mr Don Wanyama, said by press time that he would consult with the army and other relevant government departments before giving out a statement on the matter.