Former Aruu County MP Odonga Otto has recalled an unusual encounter with Uganda’s military intelligence authorities, saying he was detained for eight hours after his vehicle broke down near the headquarters of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
Speaking during an appearance on NBS Television on Thursday night, August 13, Otto said the incident happened after his car developed mechanical problems in front of the military intelligence facility.
According to the former legislator, the location of the breakdown immediately raised suspicion among security personnel because of his known opposition background.
“My car broke down in front of CMI and they detained me for eight hours because they didn't understand why an opposition person's car would break down in front of CMI of all places,” Otto said.
His account highlights the sensitivity surrounding CMI, the intelligence arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), particularly in relation to political opposition and national security.
CMI is primarily responsible for military intelligence, including gathering information on security threats, investigating matters affecting the military and supporting national defence operations.
However, the agency has periodically attracted public criticism over allegations involving the detention and treatment of opposition politicians, activists and other individuals.
Otto’s experience, as described on NBS Television, reflects the broader scrutiny that Uganda’s security agencies have faced over their handling of opposition figures.
The former MP did not indicate that he had been charged with a specific offence during the eight-hour detention.
His explanation instead suggested that security personnel were suspicious about the circumstances surrounding his vehicle breaking down at such a sensitive location.