MTN, ISO disagree over ‘raid’ on Kololo office

MTN Uganda has issued a statement refuting media claims that the Internal Security Organisation had raided the telecommunications company Kololo offices.

According to the statement, the largest telecommunication company in the country said New Vision’s article on Sunday, February 17, on pages 3-4 contained sensational details of a raid allegedly conducted on MTN Administrative Offices in Kololo at midday on Friday 15^thFebruary 2019.

“Our attention has been drawn to the article and headline of the Sunday Vision newspaper dated 17^th February 2019 titled “MTN: ISO raids Kololo office,” the statement read in parts.

“MTN Uganda would like to clarify that it was not the subject of any ISO raid as alleged by the article. We have subsequently requested the editor of the Sunday Vision to correct the inaccuracies reported in the newspaper.”

However, MTN Uganda’s account contradicts that of ISO Director Col Frank Kaka Bagyenda.

According to New Vision, the ISO boss maintains that a team of operatives from his agency on Friday carried out a raid on the telecom company’s office as part of their investigations.

“The investigations into MTN are on. We are conducting a series of investigations and one was on Friday but I would not want to discuss details with the media,” Kaka told the local daily.

Currently MTN Uganda is trying to safeguard itself against any media up-beating following the deportation of its top employees including Wim Vanhelleputte, the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

Vanhelleputte was deported on Thursday by the Uganda government on allegations that he was posing a threat to the country’s national security.

“MTN confirms Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte, the CEO of MTN Uganda has been deported from Uganda. MTN has not been notified of the grounds for the deportation and is working hard to establish precise reasons for the deportation.”

According to a letter signed by Internal Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo, Vanhelleputte was to stay outside Uganda indefinitely.

Others deported over the last couple of weeks include Olivier Prentout (French), Annie Bilenge Tabura (Rwandan) and Elsa Muzzolini (Italian). The trio was also slapped with the same charge as their boss.