Patrick Karegeya
Encyclopedia
Patrick Karegeya is a former head of intelligence in Rwanda
. After being twice thrown in jail over alleged indiscipline, desertion and insubordination, he was stripped of his rank of Colonel in 2006 and went into exile in 2007.
Karegeya was born in Mbarara
in southwestern Uganda
, to a refugee family.
He attended Makerere University
where he earned a Bachelor of Law degree.
He joined the National Resistance Army
in Uganda but was arrested in June 1982 and charged with treason, spending three years in jail.
Later he joined President Yoweri Museveni
in the struggle that led to the overthrow of Milton Obote
.
He was a lieutenant in Ugandan military intelligence when the decision to invade Rwanda was made, at a time when his friend Paul Kagame
was studying in the USA.
From 1994 to 2004 Karegeya was Director General, External Intelligence in the Rwandan Defence Forces
.
As chief of intelligence in Rwanda he had great power, and was said to have access to funds that enabled him to buy properties in Britain.
Karegeya was arrested and served an 18-month sentence for desertion and insubordination.
He was stripped of his rank of Colonel on 13 July 2006 by a military tribunal and fled the country in 2007.
Later, Kagame claimed that he was in the pay of South Africa
n military intelligence.
In August 2010 Karegeya told the Ugandan paper The Observer that Kagame was a dictator who would not leave power unless he was forced out by war.
The same month he told the BBC that Kagame had ordered a series of political killings.
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. After being twice thrown in jail over alleged indiscipline, desertion and insubordination, he was stripped of his rank of Colonel in 2006 and went into exile in 2007.
Karegeya was born in Mbarara
Mbarara
Mbarara is a town in Western Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Mbarara District and the location of the district headquarters. It is also the largest urban centre in Western Uganda.-Location:...
in southwestern Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, to a refugee family.
He attended Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
where he earned a Bachelor of Law degree.
He joined the National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
in Uganda but was arrested in June 1982 and charged with treason, spending three years in jail.
Later he joined President Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
in the struggle that led to the overthrow of Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
.
He was a lieutenant in Ugandan military intelligence when the decision to invade Rwanda was made, at a time when his friend Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame is the sixth and current President of the Republic of Rwanda. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front , whose victory over the incumbent government in July 1994 effectively ended the Rwandan genocide...
was studying in the USA.
From 1994 to 2004 Karegeya was Director General, External Intelligence in the Rwandan Defence Forces
Rwandan Defence Forces
The Rwanda Defence Forces is the national army of Rwanda. Largely composed of former Rwandan Patriotic Army fighters, it comprises The High Command Council of the Rwanda Defence Forces; the General Staff of the Rwanda Defence Forces; the Rwanda Land Force; the Rwanda Air Force; and ...
.
As chief of intelligence in Rwanda he had great power, and was said to have access to funds that enabled him to buy properties in Britain.
Karegeya was arrested and served an 18-month sentence for desertion and insubordination.
He was stripped of his rank of Colonel on 13 July 2006 by a military tribunal and fled the country in 2007.
Later, Kagame claimed that he was in the pay of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n military intelligence.
In August 2010 Karegeya told the Ugandan paper The Observer that Kagame was a dictator who would not leave power unless he was forced out by war.
The same month he told the BBC that Kagame had ordered a series of political killings.