Witnesses pin Brig Ondoga BY SIRAJE LUBWAMA Brig Michael OndogaIt is 4:18am November 11, Maj Gen Levi Karuhanga, Chairman General Court Martial, enters the court to proceed with further hearing of Brig Michael Ondoga, formerly commander of the Ugandan contingent in Somalia. Ondoga is facing charges of failure to brief. Among court goers include MPs Kassiano Wadri (Chairman, West Nile Parliamentary Group) Benard Atiku Ayivu MP and Adjumani Woman MP Jesca Ababiku. The two days’ witnesses, Col Lawrence Kansiime and Lt Col Jackson Kajura in their testimony, had accused Ondoga of command failures, mistreatment giving them expired food and insufficient water. They testified that despite the hardships meted out against them they made successes against the al-Shabab. Other members of the court panel included Lt Col S A Ochen and Maj Dan Karugira, the judge advocate is Lt Col Gideon Katinda. Whereas prosecution was led by Lt Bosco Bwanguturebye, the defence was represented by Frank Kanduho. Siraje Lubwama recorded the proceedings and below is an abridged version: (Court registrar Capt John Bizimaana calls Ondoga’s file, as the brigadier enters the metallic dock; prosecution witness also takes the witness box and takes oath). Bwanguturebye: For the record, tell this honourable court your name and age. Kansiime: RO 07236 Lt. Col Lawrence Kansiime. I have 51 years. Bwanguturebye: When did you join the army? Kansiime: In 1985. Bwanguturebye: Tell us the military courses you have attended. Kansiime: I took a brief training, artillery course, grand artillery cadet officer, military intelligence basic course, regiment command artillery course, [and]senior command and staff college. Bwanguturebye: What was your recent deployment? In 2012, I was posted to Somalia as artillery commander and deputy commander, battle group 10, where Col Edison Muwanguzi was the battalion commander. Bwanguturebye: Under what contingent was battle group 10? Kansiime: Under Uganda contingent and contingent commander was Brig Ondoga and it was comprised of 25, 39 and 45 battalions which had logistics. Bwanguturebye: Who was OC 25th battalion? Kansiime: Maj Sentamu. Bwanguturebye: Then 39th battalion? Kansiime: Lt Col Wamala. Bwanguturebye: And 35th battalion? Kansiime: Maj Ruziro. Bwanguturebye: Who was the Moi [Military Officer, Intelligence]. Kansiime: Maj Busingye. Bwanguturebye: And battle field group logistic officer? Kansiime: Maj Kirabo. Bwanguturebye: Where was battle group 10 deployed? Kansiime: At headquarter stadium and later moved to different places. Bwanguturebye: On 6th October 2012 where were you? Kansiime: I was at the station and I got orders for my battle group to advance from Afogoye to Baidogole and that the advance was to be conducted by me. I organized the troops, started advancing the next morning where battle 45th battalion was. I was not provided operation orders by Ondoga. When I tried to trace them from him, he instead accused me of cowardice and warned that if I don’t advance, I would be arrested, demoted and repatriated. Ondoga was calling me on phone continuing to threaten me. After ten hours, we were in Afogoye with no guiding aids. Bwanguturebye: By what means were you advancing? Kansiime: We had APCs [armed personnel carriers] which were not enough [or] sophisticated vehicles. This was because there was no logistical plan. We opted for mounted movement because the order was to capture Baidoa that day. Bwanguturebye: How many troops were at your disposal? Kansiime: I had 1,000 troops. Bwanguturebye: What tactics of the enemy were you briefed of? Kansiime: Al-Shabab enemy had tactics which included ambushes and snipping. Given these enumerated tactics, we had no required protection in this 60-km stretch. Bwanguturebye: How long did it take you to reach Baidoa. Kansiime: On 7th October 2012 we did not make it to Baidoa. We made a defence 3km before Wolawe which is 15km before Baidoa. At Wolawe is where Ondoga joined us. He left early in the morning the next day when we captured Baidoa at 11 am or thereabout. Bwanguturebye: Prior to your joining battle group 10, what other operations had you participated in? Kansiime: I had been involved in operation against ADF, LRA, Kisangani, [Alice] Lakwena and Karamoja disarmament. Bwanguturebye: Given this vast experience, was it normal to advance without operational orders? Kansiime: It was abnormal because we also had no enough water and CRPs (Combat Rational Parts) for our troops, we did not have intelligence about the enemy. We had no communication plan and we relied on tetra radios which were at times out of range and our telephones in some places had no networks. The orders were issued after a week on 14th October. Bwanguturebye: How long did the operation to your last destined area Baidoa take you? Kansiime: It took us six months beginning on October 6, 2012 to May 2013. Throughout this period, logistics like spin water supply and food were not enough because of the long distance from where it was fetched and fruits were scarce. The situation had continued to deteriorate from bad to worse in terms of food quality and quantity to the extent that we were issued with rotten eggs and bad beans which were several times bigger than the Ugandan beans. We could not eat them because they were supposed to be cooked for eight hours. I briefed the contingent commander who offered no solution. Water had to be supplied in a stretch of 170km. Bwanguturebye: When did you leave Mogadishu? Kansiime: On 10th October 2013 in the rotation arrangement. Bwanguturebye: My lord chairman, we’re through with examination in chief. (Court adjourns for 30 minutes on Kanduho’s request). Kanduho: Were you at any one time aligned before a division court martial on charges of fuel theft? Kansiime: Yes in May 2013 and was discharged on the ruling of no case to answer. Kanduho: When were you discharged? Kansiime: In December 2013. Kanduho: Do you have a court order to that effect? Kansiime: I don’t. Kanduho: When were you last in Somalia? Kansiime: In October 2013. Kanduho: Is that possible? Were you discharged miraculously because if you left Somalia in October, how could you be discharged in December? Was the discharge by sms? Kansiime: The case was referred to Uganda. Kanduho: So, when a court adjourns, in your wisdom you are discharged? Kansiime: I was discharged. Kanduho: You testified that there were a number of problems in Baidogole; do you know action recovery is mandatory to every commander? Kansiime: I know. Kanduho: Did you make an after-recovery report? Kansiime: Yes I did. Kanduho: Thank you very much; can we be assisted with a copy? Kansiime: I gave a battle commander a copy. Kanduho: With whom did you do this postmortem review? Kansiime: The commanding officer 45th battalion and the logistic officer. Kanduho: When did you do it? Kansiime: In October around 9th or 10th I think. Kanduho: For how long were you acting commanding officer battle group 10? Kansiime: For five days when the commanding officer was sick. Kanduho: During this period you moved from which place to where? Kansiime: From the stadium where I was to five places that included Baidogole. I had soldiers of the 45th battalion during this time and other components like artilleries and Moi tanks. Kanduho: Let’s have a break-down of troops beginning with Moi. Kansiime: I had 1,000 troops but cannot break them down. Kanduho: This is not a theatre; under artillery how many did you have? Kansiime: Eight personnel. Kanduho: And under defence? Kansiime: I am not sure. Kanduho: Am I right to say 54th battalion was camped orally at Afogoye? Kansiime: It was spread in other places. Kanduho: So, this is the force that you invited at your aid? Kansiime: The other company was brought in on the 7th by Maj Wegulo of 54th battalion. Kanduho: Am I right to say that a battle group in military language is self-sustained with its own logistic trucks? Kansiime: Yes. Kanduho: Does it have its own equipment in terms of vehicles? Kansiime: They are shared. Kanduho: Does it have its own water trucks? Kansiime: It has. Kanduho: And fuel? Kansiime: It has on rotation. Kanduho: Does it have its own food? Kansiime: It has its own food. Kanduho: What else of its own does it have? Kansiime: Small communication radios. Kanduho: Where does a battle group draw its food from? Kansiime: From UNSOA [United Nation Support Office for Amisom] and it would be issued at a contingent. Kanduho: Were you the chairman of food receiving committee? Kansiime: I was not; it was Maj Ruhinda. Kanduho: Am I right to say that a battle group officer concentrates on administration issue only? Kansiime: You’re very right. Kanduho: Am I right to say that you as an artillery commander you’re not involved in food receiving: yes or no? Kansiime: No. Kanduho: Therefore you are not competent to testify about this area? Kansiime: I qualify because the food receiving committee gave me copies of their periodical reports. Kanduho: Can you avail a copy? Kansiime: Prosecution can extract one. Kanduho: Incidentally it is you in the witness box not the prosecution; the question is can you or cannot? Kansiime: Right now I cannot. Kanduho: Thank you very much; who was in charge of food storage in a battle group? Kansiime: The logistics officer. Kanduho: And at a contingent level? Kansiime: Contingent logistics officer. Kanduho: Is Ondoga any of them? Kansiime: It is done on his behalf. Kanduho: Don’t wiseacre. Bwanguturebye: A witness should not be abused. Kanduho: I thought a wiseacre is somebody who knows much. (Back to the witness) Was Ondoga in charge of fetching water: yes or no? Kansiime: No, MTO (Military Transport Officer] was in charge. Kanduho: Did you receive any communication regarding water shortage? Kansiime: Yes I did and briefed the contingent commander. Kanduho: Can you avail some of the briefing reports? Kansiime: I am just aware. Kanduho: Am I right to say that there was water at a place called Alidisca which was 20km away? Kansiime: Yes it was fetched from that place. Kanduho: Did Ondoga formulate a decision of where water was supposed to be fetched? Kansiime: No, it was the battle commander’s decision. Kanduho: Was Ondoga a battle commander? Kansiime: No, it was Col. Muwanguzi. Kanduho: Do you know Col. Muwanguzi very well? Kansiime: I do. Kanduho: Do you know that he was later stripped of the rank of colonel and reverted to lieutenant colonel? Kansiime: Yes. Kanduho: In your service carrier, is it normal for a well serving officer to be stripped off his rank? Kansiime: It is abnormal. Katinda: Who was in command of Afogoye between 15th and 20th? Kansiime: Muwanguzi. Kanduho: In your statement at SIB [Special Investigations Bureau], you and Muwanguzi fell sick in turns after you received order to advance, confirm. Kansiime: He fell sick and so did I. Kanduho: Doesn’t your falling sick in turns express Ondoga’s cowardice allegations? Kansiime: No. Kanduho: Did charges against you in Somalia also [include] counts of theft of fuel? Kansiime: As you say, it was part of the allegations. Kanduho: Do you [know] other people in your battle group who were involved in these allegations? Kansiime: Some drivers were also accused of stealing fuel. Kanduho: What is an advance operation? Kansiime: In a definition of court it means moving troops and capturing territory. Kanduho: Am I right to say that during the advance, APCs had been supplied by Ondoga? Kansiime: Some of them. Kanduho: What is the distance from Baidogole to Lego? Kansiime: 40km. Kanduho: Did you encounter any battle at Lego? Kansiime: I was not part of the troops to Lego. Kanduho: From whom did you get information that 1,000 troops had been committed for the advance instead of 1,500? Kansiime: From battle group 9 commander Col Akiiki Rugadya. Kanduho: Did you try to verify this information? Kansiime: Not at the beginning but we later learnt from the headquarters that this information was addressed to Ondoga. Kanduho: What was the message saying? Kansiime: Commit 1,500 troops and advance to Baidoa. Kanduho: How useful can you be to this court to make these reports available? Kansiime: Since I am in Uganda, prosecution can get them. Brig Michael Ondoga (R) welcoming Maj Gen David Muhoozi in Somalia Kanduho: Was it Ondoga or UNISOA [United Nations Support Office for Amisom] which was responsible for supplying food items? Kansiime: Ondoga was responsible for basics of the Uganda contingent. Kanduho: If a soldier defiled a child, assaulted a civilian or kept food and it got rotten, should Ondoga be charged? Kansiime: He is responsible. Kanduho: My lord chairman, I am done. Bwanguturebye: (re-examines) At the time you received the information of 1,500 troops, did you have reason to doubt the source? Kansiime: Absolutely not. Bwanguturebye: Is it abnormal for people to fall sick? Kansiime: It is normal even the presiding general falls sick (laughter). Bwanguturebye: We’re done. (Lt. Col Sam Ochen and Maj Dan Karugire ask Kansiime clarification questions before court adjourns for 30 minutes. At 12:10pm the 3rd prosecution witness in the case enters the witness box). Bwanguturebye: Tell court your name and a few details. Kajura: Lt Col Jackson Kajura, formerly chief instructor armoured warfare in Mogadishu, BG10 tank commander and instructor unit infantry unit 45th battalion. Bwanguturebye: Were you involved in the advance? Kajura: Yes, we were given operation orders to advance to Baidogole in October 2012, by platoon brigade commander Lt Col Wilson Muwanguzi and 1,000 troops were committed for this mission. We were to leave 400 troops at Bakakado. After we lost our mobile tank TT5AM/11 combat No 922, which was hit by al-Shabab and we lost four soldiers, we changed from mounted infantry [some troops on foot guarding other elements from behind and upfront] to un-mounted [all troops on vehicle]. The four occupants – Lt Godfrey Orombi, James Bond, L/Cpl Ivan Mugisha and the driver Dan Madira – on the crew died. Bwanguturebye: Tell us other problems you encountered from Baidogole to Baidoa. Kajura: Lt Col Muwanguzi commanding the advance, we could not advance in six days because of the bad weather and our armoured tanks could not move. At Legowe we had a problem of insufficient expired food items. The distance from Baidogole to Baidoa is 80km. We had RS radios to communicate with any tank and operation commander. Bwanguturebye: What was your experience in capturing the target area? Kajura: The hardest part was Baidogole because of mishaps we experienced along the way, including lack of fresh food. We were told by the logistics officer that there were no fridge facilities. Later some troops from 25th battalion finally came in. Bwanguturebye: This is the end if examination-in-chief. Kanduho: Throughout your advance, you did not have the 25th battalion; where was it? Kajura: At the university, it was brought around April 2013. Kanduho: Between 3rd of October to 14th of October 2012, where were you? Kajura: I was in Naibisa headquarters. Kanduho: And you had all the tank components with you? Kajura: Yes, when we reach a battle area, we distribute our tanks. Kanduho: Did you have storage stores for food and beverages? Kajura: Yes. Kanduho: Is there any point in time when they broke down and became disfunctional? Kajura: I don’t remember. Kanduho: Was Ondoga in charge of the storage facilities? Kajura: I don’t know. Kanduho: As lieutenant colonel in UPDF, do you expect the contingent commander to be in charge of these facilities? Kajura: He is a commander of everything. Kanduho: Who was in charge of welfare training? Kajura: The logistics officer. Kanduho: Did you have a food, and technical committee? Kajura: Yaah, I read the message; there was a food committee and other committees but I was only bothered with my pieces. Kanduho: In the message did you come across anywhere that Ondoga was a member of any of these committees? Kansiime: No. Kanduho: Did you come across [anything] about UNSOA? Kansiime: Yes, it, among other things, delivered items. Kanduho: Did you personally raise complaints of insufficient rotten food? Kajura: Yes I did to the platoon commander and I expected him to take action. Kanduho: At some point in time when you were still a major did you receive information on how fuel was mismanaged? Kajura: No. Kanduho: Are you aware that Muwanguzi was involved in theft of fuel? Kajura: No. Kanduho: Was there fuel theft indeed? Kajura: I don’t know. Kanduho: Did you lose another tank after the Tererodo incident? Kajura: No. Kanduho: Is mountain formation known in combat? Kajura: Yes. Kanduho: Is it an erroneous formation? Kajura: Yes, depending on the situation; I can’t say it is erroneous or not but sometimes it can be. Kanduho: Is there a situation where this kind of formation is with error? Kajura: Yes. Kanduho: At the time the tank was hit, did you have operational anchor? Kajura: Yes, the I.O [intelligence officer] had put me on notice of a possible hit. Kanduho: These IEDs [improvised explosive devices] are remotely controlled. I learnt that they can detonate after the incident, did Ondoga know about this? Kajura: I don’t know but Ondoga was there before me. Kanduho: Did you make an inquiry after this tank incident? Kajura: I’m aware it was done but I was not part of it. The intention was to establish the major cause and it was partly established that an IED remote control was used. Since I was on ground, I went to the point of impact and recovered the remote control which I handed over to my superior. Kanduho: After Muwanguzi gave you orders, did you make your own orders? Kajura: No, but as a commander, he is supposed to give me a third of the orders and leave himself with two-thirds. The order message was passed unto me on 18th and we had no time to make new orders and issue them. Kanduho: If we gave you a copy of operation orders that Muwanguzi made to you, can you confirm they were made on 17th? Kajura: Yes (Kanduho passes on a copy of the orders to him). Kanduho: Go to page 8 of the distribution list, what number are you? Kajura: I’m captured as No.4. Kanduho: How long was your pre-mission training? Kajura: Three months. Kanduho: And among other things were your trained about the dos and don’ts and warned about various things part from remote control devices? Kajura: I was not told about remote control devices. Kanduho: Were you among those sleepers in class. Bwanguturebye: You should not insult our witness? Kanduho: Much obliged. Lt. Col Kajura, in the pre-training were you not forewarned of the most dangerous course the enemy was likely to take? Kajura: We were warned but I don’t remember. Kanduho: Look at that document and refresh your mind. Kajura: Yes, planting IEDs [improvised explosive devices] and ambushes along the way. Kanduho: Do you still deny that you were not alerted? Kajura: No about the remote control, I did not know about. Kanduho: How many years have you served in the army? Kajura: I’m not a good mathematician (bout of laughter) but during my experience I had never come across a remote device. Kanduho: One of the orders provided for support, meaning shooting at the enemy. Kajura: Shoot at them. Kanduho: After this incident as tank component commander before the board of inquiry? Kajura: No. Kanduho: Did you do an incident report? Kajura: Yes we did but it was not documented. Kanduho: You sat down under a mango tree, lamented and went away? Kajura: Yes, we sat with a commander who was ahead of [us]and we did not hand over to anybody in the world. Kanduho: Am I right to say that the four months you stayed at Alidisca you had good, purified and treated water? Kajura: It was good. Kanduho: If another witness testified before this court that water at Alidisca was bad, how would you describe him? Kajura: A liar because I would ask him where he was drawing it from. Kanduho: I take it that you had a screener at the advance operation. Kajura: We initially had it. It is for early warning. Kanduho: In terms of telling you there is a rabbit or a needle? Kajura: Yes it warns of the danger ahead of you. Kanduho: Did it warn you of the possible tank hit? Kajura: The very tank that was part of the screen was the one hit (more laughter). Kanduho: So the screen itself was hit and died, what number was it in the column? Kajura: It was No.4 Kanduho: And what was your number in the column? Kajura: No. 5. Kanduho: So you’re supposed to have been killed and in your wisdom with this operation error, Ondoga is supposed to suffer death? Kajura: Without explaining, you cannot get it. Kanduho: Don’t explain, I am through. (Bwanguturebye briefly re-examines the witness before the case is adjourned to November 19 for further hearing). [email protected]
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 05:07:48 +0000
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