Mystery Document Alleges:
Covert Operation has US/Egypt Support
Operations Coordinated between South Sudan, TPLF and Uganda
Planning began December 2021
By Alastair Thompson
The document that follows below was provided to Scoop this week in plain text form. It has been reformatted and partially redacted for publishing, (removing private details related to named individuals).
CONTENTS
Introductory Information
1. Opening
2. Introduction & Provenance
3. Additional Context
4. Summary of the Uganda Document’s Central Allegations
Document Text
a) The List of Ugandan Generals & Commanders Assigned to the Classified Operations with the Tigrayan Rebel Forces.
b) The Ugandan Civilians Involved
c) The Allied Countries to the Tigrayan Rebel Forces
d) Training places of Tigrayan rebel forces
e) Sponsored Places for Accommodation of the Tigrayan Rebel Forces in Uganda
f) Coordination of the Uganda –Tigrayan Rebel Forces Programs in South Sudan
g) Coordinators on the Tigrayan Side
CAPTION: Map of the Greater Horn of Africa Region – roughly speaking the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) block of nations. Uganda has borders with South Sudan and Kenya)Scoop understands that the contents of the document are an open secret in political circles in Addis Ababa, and has determined - that while its source is not known, and its contents cannot be verified - its release is in the public interest, given the seriousness of the implications of what it alleges.
As described below in the “Introduction” section, the date of the authoring of this document is also unclear. It states that it is an update of an earlier report. The final section of the document - which discusses interactions between the TPLF’s military commanders and Ugandan counterparts – says planning for the operation began in late 2021. However we have been unable to find any mention of these events in social media or news media – and in a very limited manner – until early May 2022 – five months later.
On May 15th a public denial about the operation was given by a Ugandan Minister (see details below).
By then it is possible that the alleged training operations detailed in the document may have been completed, or relocated. For obvious reasons this makes verification of the allegations in the document extremely difficult.
It is entirely possible that the document could be part of an elaborate misinformation operation, either by the Govt. of Ethiopia, other IC players, or private intelligence operations like SAHAN Research which has a history of covert information operations. Or even by the TPLF itself. But it is hard to see why any of these groups would make such incendiary accusations at this time.
Scoop was provided the document via a usually reliable source. And on balance it is currently our view that the document is a real intelligence report – though the source is unknown.
As mentioned above, Uganda’s Minister of Defense and Foreign affairs Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja denied the core allegations in the report on May 13th, 8 days after the document (or one similar) began to be discussed on youtube and mentioned in Twitter on May 4. The report has only been tweeted twice, by the publication and the author. And this video reply tweet appears to be from a military officer.
CAPTION: Screenshot from the first known appearance of the document discussed and released in full in this article on May 4th in the Zehebasha Original Youtube Channel.
The denial appears to have been issued in response to reports on two Youtube news zines Zehabesha, which had what appears to have been the first report on May 4th, and “My Views On News” which had follow up reports on May 5th and May 6th.
While there were a few initial reports and tweets from May 5 through May 15 when the official Ugandan denial was made on May 13th (during a visit to Uganda by Ethiopia’s armed forces commander Ethiopian Field Marshal of the Ethiopian National Defense Force Berhanu Jula) - there has been little comment on it since and no mainstream media interest in the claims. Notably there was no coverage of this denial that I can find in any media other than the Ugandan publication.
This tweet posted on May 5th contains screenshots of extracts & parts of a document which is similar but different from the one published today.
^^ This tweeted version appears to be of screenshots taken from the Zehabesha version of the document..
Introduction & Provenance
The document appears to be an intelligence report of some kind - original source unknown to Scoop. Based on the text the purpose of the document appears to be to brief security officials about a security threat posed by from offensive military training operations being conducted in Uganda on behalf of the TPLF Rebel Government from the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Scoop received the document from a reliable source, albeit absent any explanation or context.As mentioned above the document’s revelations were the subject of youtube reports from Zehabesha on May 4th and Sajid Nadeem on May 5th, May 6th in his “My Views on News” show about the conflict in Ethiopia. Mr Nadeem’s description of what he read in the document suggests his document is similar to the one published in full here today. As the Zehabesha report is in Amharic this commentary focuses on Mr Nadeem’s report.
In his initial report on May 5 Mr Nadeem said the document had been provided to “govt. aligned media". And it is true that Zehabesha appears to have good Govt. sources. The publication is also known at times (like all the Ethiopia Tube shows) to post some speculative material. In a follow up broadcast on May 6th Mr Nadeem speculates that the document may have been the discussion of a delegation which was sent to visit South Sudan from Eritrea,
He suggests in this broadcast that the ultimate source of the document could be Eritrean Intelligence.
There are indications in the text - some of which are redacted here- which point to the document being sent to a security organisation to inform them about the operation that it details. These refer to possible lead information which could be pursued further.
Importantly as mentioned in the opening. The document appears to be an update of an earlier related report. The timing of which, like this one, is unknown and which could have been potentially at any time between December (when the alleged initial meetings took place) and early May.
In this second version two additional training camps have been identified in Uganda, details about activities at those camps are incomplete, and it seems possible that there was also a follow up briefing following this one.
NOTE: This detailed introduction is intended to assist those trying to come to a conclusion about how seriously to take this report. The denial was unequivocal by the Ugandan Govt, but only reported on one Ugandan news outlet and only tweeted twice. – whilst there was a small amount of chatter on twitter and youtube, there was no real attempt made by any English media to look closely at the report as far as I am aware. The author would welcome any further information that others are aware of via Twitter on @althecat.
Finally as part of the due diligence in preparing this report the names and locations mentioned in the report were googled to check they exist. And they do.
Some additional (redacted) verification information is available in the version received as plain text, from which it would be possible for official. i.e. security service recipients of the document to have made further inquiries,
Additional Context
The focus of the document is alleged military training operations conducted in support of the TPLF rebellion in Ethiopia in Uganda and South Sudan under the command of Uganda’s commander of land forces General Muhozi Kainerugaba, the son, of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
CAPTION: Screenshot from NewsWeek article from 2012 on the elevation of the then 42 year old son of President Yoweri Museveni to the rank of Major General. General Muhozi Kainerugaba studied at Sandhurst in the UK and Fort Leavenworth in the U.S. He also trained in Egypt.
General Kainerugaba – also known as “M7” is expected to succeed his father in the Presidency after he steps down. Reports indicate this could happen in 2026. Among his many military responsibilities – General Kainerugaba the commander of Uganda’s land forces – and in this role he is responsible for the command of several detachments of Ugandan UN peace keepers.
The document details meetings between TPLF Tigrayan Armed Forces commanders and Ugandan force commanders in later 2021. So it is possible that the operations described here have been underway for some time.
General Kainerugaba – also known as “M7” is expected to succeed his father in the Presidency when he finally steps down. Among his many military responsibilities is command of several detachments of Ugandan UN Peace Keepers, including in Somalia. When he was a young officer he attended military training in Egypt, and while there developed a personal relationship with Egyptian President Al-Sisi, who was at the time his commander. He has recently expressed his support for the TPLF rebels in Ethiopia publicly on Twitter, and has even claimed he is Tigrayan.
Southern Ethiopia has a border with Uganda, and South Sudan. And inside Ethiopia adjacent to these areas there has been a significant upsurge in violence against civilians, first in Gambella Region and more recently in West Wellaga, Oromia Region.
The upsurge in violence coincided with public disagreements between Ethiopia dn Tigray about the location of planned peace talks. TPLF has questioned the role of the African Union (AU) and in recent days the Govt of Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to an AU led process.
The TPLF has proposed talks under the auspices of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to replace those planned by the AU – which seemed poised to begin in mid June.
This alternative process has been described by close TPLF associates as a “US-Nairobi led” process. With the disagreement between the two sides hardening it appears that the talks are now in jeopardy.
Summary of the Uganda Document’s Central Allegations
The document details arrangements for the training of 4600 soldiers in four separate training facilities managed by Ugandan commanders – it names the commanders, and states what kinds of training are conducted where along with other operational details of the facilities. All military trainees are Tigrayan and the document contains information related to their transportation and housing as well.
A large number of personnel involved in the operation are named and their roles are described in some detail.
A separate section details the operation in South Sudan which borders South West Ethiopia. These operations are described as being led by Ugandan Ambassador to South Sudan Brigadier Ronnie Balya “with the help of Akol Koor Kuc the Director of Internal Security Bureau of South Sudan” who reports to South Sudan President Salva Kir.
Another small section says the operation is supported by the U.S. and Egypt, in the US case saying that $200 million has been advanced towards it via the office of President Yoweri Museveni.
The final section describes interactions between TPLF’s two most senior Tigrayan Force Commanders and their Ugandan counterparts with details of two meetings in later 2021.
**************************
***** DOCUMENT TEXT FOLLOWS *****
DOCUMENT CONTENTS
a) The List of Ugandan Generals & Commanders Assigned to the Classified Operations with the Tigrayan Rebel Forces.
b) The Ugandan Civilians Involved.
c) The Allied Countries to the Tigrayan Rebel Forces.
d) Training places of Tigrayan rebel forces.
e) Sponsored Places for Accommodation of the Tigrayan Rebel Forces in Uganda.
f) Coordination of the Uganda –Tigrayan Rebel Forces Programs in South Sudan.
g) Coordinators on the Tigrayan Side.
1. The List of Ugandan Generals & Commanders Assigned to the Classified Operations with the Tigrayan Rebel Forces.
Here Under is the List of the Ugandan Generals and Commanders Assigned to the Classified Operations with the Tigrayan Rebel Forces with their respective assignments
1.1. General Muhozi Kainerugaba
General Muhozi Kainerugaba is the Overall of the Uganda Operations with the Tigrayan Rebel Forces
1.2. Brigadier Charity Bainababo
Brigadier Charity Bainababo is assigned to be the chief coordinator and movements of logistics and finances for the Tigrayan Rebel Forces,
1.3. Brigadier Ronnie Balya
Brigadier Ronnie Balya is the Ugandan Ambassador to South Sudan,
Brigadier Ronnie Balya is Responsible for Coordination of the Uganda –Tigrayan Rebel Forces Programs in South Sudan
1.4. Michael Katungi Mpairwe
Michael Katungi Mpairwe based in Adis Ababa (Adis Office at African Union), for Intelligence gathering,
1.5. Col. Charles (incomplete Name)
Col. Charles a British Retired Officer operates with Michael Katungi Mpairwe on intelligence and also responsible of planning of assassination of those allied to Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy.
1.6. Major General Don Nabasa;
Major Gen. Don Nabasa is currently the commander of the Uganda military police.
Major General Don Nabasa is the back bone of all the earlier engagements of the Tigrayan when he was still in Somalia and used to coordinate all the trainings and technical planning and strategic deployment of the Tigrayan rebel forces and he is assigned for the same up to now based in Uganda.
1.7. Brigadier Keith Katungi
Brigadier Keith Katungi is now the head of the Uganda contingent in Somalia.
1.8. Keith Katungi
Keith Katungi coordinates the placement of key Tigrayan commanders for training in Uganda. Keith Katungi is responsible for Senior Tigrayan Rebel Forces commanders training).
1.9. Nomma;
Nomma the presidential protection officer in the state house.
Nomma coordinates the safety of Senior Tigrayan Rebel Officers in Uganda, their safe entry to Uganda from Juba through Entebbe VIP section to avoid security checks and any suspicions of their presence in Uganda.
She caters for their meeting arrangements with President Yoweri Museveni at Entebbe state house. And other executive related programmes between Yoweri Museveni and the Senior Tigrayan Rebel Officer.
1.10. Brigadier Abel Kandiho
Brigadier Abel Kandiho was the head of the chieftaincy of military intelligence.
Brigadier Abel Kandiho is now place under the police force special command.
Brigadier Abel Kandiho is responsible coordination with the Egyptian counterparts on the Tigrayan operations and facilitation from Egypt.
Brigadier Abel Kandiho is also responsible to oversee and supervise the Tigrayan rebel forces being trained under cover of police, and those being placed in Somalia for the Tigrayan operation project and training some of them from Somalia.
The Responsible Commanders of the Training of Tigrayans at Kampala-Kakiri
1.11. Major Yusufu Bilali Katamba
1.12. Brigadier Gen. Joseph Musoke Ssemwanga
the Deputy Commander of the First Infantry division
1.13. Col. James Rukundo
the Head of Operations at the Infantry division.
1.14. Col.
https://zehabesha.com/are-there-tplf-ethiopia-insurgency-training-support-operations-in-uganda/
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