The Well-Kept Secrets: Untold Story how Tanga Odoi Imitated First Daughter Natasha Karugire to Chew Ham Kiggundu`s UGX530M

This did not only incense Karugire to the marrow. It also invited a hot slap and rainy blows in Ham`s face. A real fight, reportedly witnessed by only Karugire`s partner Kiwanuka-Kiryowa, also today`s Attorney General of Country Uganda, ensued and brought the meeting to an instant end

Amidst Ugandan society are some hitherto big shots in government, but currently grassing individuals on Kampala streets. It is forever a puzzle within members of the public, wondering why such people are not bitter with, or hit back in revenge, at President Museveni and his government. But to the knowledgeable, it is not a conundrum. It is simply because such people have well-kept but ugly secrets holed up in President Museveni`s lockers.

Others are in government, executing stuff one wouldn’t expect them to, given their known rather straight character. But they do those things anyway. Reason? They have a well-kept dirty file before the powers that be. On various occasions, we have seen yesterdays` big shorts being switched from powerful to less authoritative positions today. And they kowtow to their master`s poohoo anyway. Reason? simply because the old Man-with-a-Hat has their well-kept smelly boxes locked firmly under his armpit.

Today, we unveil one of such people. His name is Tanga Odoi, the hitherto one of the most feared, no-nonsense and powerful Makerere University Dons. He currently serves as the ruling NRM Electoral Commission boss at Kyadondo Plot 10-premised headquarters, a position he he`s held for eight years. For those in the know of the man, if a decade ago Tanga Odoi meets the one of today, it will definitely end in a fatal fight between them. Yesteryears poor but principled Tanga Odoi is a man one wouldn`t expect of today`s super rich and yet thunderstruck Odoi. He sometimes does things that even his master, who would somewhat be pleased, end up in utter shock and disappointment.

The Story

Intel have emerged how, somewhere around February 2017, city businessman Hamis Kiggundu aka Ham, had a meeting with First Daughter, Natasha Karugire`s husband, Edwin Karugire, at the latter`s offices. This came on the heels of a call Ham had made to Karugire, claiming that his wife, Natasha, had conned him of USD100K. This allegation disturbed Karugire to the borne. So much so that he instantly accorded Ham audience. He knows very well what his wife can, and or can’t dare do.

In the meeting, aside calling Natasha on phone in Ham`s presence, Karugire labored to explain to the businessman how, he had kept his family clean of Kampala`s dirty deals. He explained how his wife doesn`t even know the exchange rate of dollars, let along her, personally handling any cash. Indeed, Natasha is too busy a woman who is entrusted with the President`s wardrobe matters and hence, always on the move with the principal. That aside, the couple is debatably the cleanest within the First Family circles. It has never been connected to any deals around town, questionable or clean whatsoever.

But Karugire`s explanation fell on deaf ears. Ham swore upon the living Allah in Jannah, that Natasha had swindled him of the dimes. “Omanyi Sssebo, tuli basajja. Abakazi boolaba abo bazibu, tosobola kuwakanira mukazi nebwoba olowooza nti omumanyi nnyo,” Ham reportedly explained to Karugire in Luganda, literally saying; “Look here Sir, we are men. Women are really complicated and tricky. You can`t deny for a woman however much you think you know, or trust them.” This did not only incense Karugire to the marrow. It also invited a hot slap and rainy blows in Ham`s face. A real fight, reportedly witnessed by only Karugire`s partner Kiwanuka-Kiryowa, also today`s Attorney General of Country Uganda, ensued and brought the meeting to an instant end. Ham went away cursing, and Karugire remained behind angry and confused.

The Investigations

The concerned and bitter Karugire called his Mother-in-law, Hon. Janet Kaguta Museveni and briefed about the entire scenario. Maama Janet, as popularly known, got equally disturbed and bitter. She reportedly called her brother-in-law, Gen. Salim Saleh and briefed him of the same, seeking for his investigative guidance. Gen. Saleh in turn called the then new ISO boss, Col. Kaka Bagyenda and instructed him to do the needful. Kaka picked the directive by assigning his main cyber investigators.

It had all started during the times of Ham`s itching urge to grab to his name, Kampala`s Park Yard Market, present day Ham Shopping Arcades, downtown. Around the same time, Park Yard Market vendors had petitioned the Speaker of Parliament at the time, Rebecca Kadaga, over their impromptu eviction. They wanted the August House to intervene so that they are given opportunity to redevelop the market space themselves. But before Parliament could look into their matter, the market stalls were torn down and vendors evicted by Ham Enterprises, the same that had been granted a lease to redevelop the Nakivubo Stadium into a modern sports arena and shopping complex.

The February 27 razing of the market left many vendors crying, more so, because it had been committed very fast on the back of their petition. It seemed to be that Ham was ahead of Parliament just in case it intended to intervene on their behalf. Long story short, the equally concerned MPs elected to summon the Kampala Minister Betty Olive Namisango Kamya, her junior Benny Namugwanya, the Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago and Ham himself, for thorough interrogation.

Tanga Odious well-kept secrets emerge (Courtesy Photo)

Whereas all the summoned positively responded to the summons, Ham didn`t. He either feared to face the legislators sensing their bitterness against him would lead them into implausible action, or he actually had judged himself guilty. It is during this state that he would part with everything possible, away from life, to save him from appearing before MPs. But trust Kampala mafia. Someone already knew of Hams panicky situation! And he put this knowledge to proper use. His name is Tanga Odoi! Welcome to Ugandans `The Well-Kept Secrets` series… To be continued…

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Stanley Ndawula: Stanley Ndawula is a two and a half decades’ seasoned investigative journalist with a knack for serious crimes investigations and reporting. He’s the Founding Editorial Director and CEO at The Investigator Publications (U) Limited