Kampala — INTRIGUE, personal conflicts and confusion have thrown Uganda's High Commission in the United Kingdom into turmoil, reportedly leading to the deportation of one of the top diplomats.

According to a report compiled by the Inspector of the UK Police Diplomatic Protection Group, Mr Graham Smith, which Daily Monitor has seen, the former Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Justinian Muhwezi Kateera, was deported for alleged racial abuse of a colleague and over staying his student visa.

"Kateera has not conducted himself in a manner that I would expect from a diplomat," Smith said in his January 2006 report to the Chief Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Service.

"He has been a source of embarrassment to the High Commission and I personally would not support his return to this country in any diplomatic position."

Kateera, who has been in Uganda since January when the alleged deportation took place, yesterday denied the claims in an interview. The British-trained lawyer dismissed the claims as "false" and calculated to damage his reputation. "It is a case of pure internal conflicts and intrigue, which have to be dealt with as a matter of urgency," he said.

He described the allegations of deportation as "defamatory," adding that "a diplomat can only be recalled by his Government and not deported." He produced a work permit and other documents allowing him to work and live in the United Kingdom.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kuteesa, could not be reached for a comment as he was reportedly in a meeting the whole day.

The Permanent Secretary in Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr James Mugume, yesterday admitted that the Government was aware of the rivalry in the mission, but played them down as "natural" and a result of "human failings."

"We are aware of the situation in the mission in the UK," he said by telephone yesterday. "We are putting in place the necessary reforms to save the country's image but you know these internal conflicts are expected in any environment."

The report adds, "On Thursday 5th January 2006, I spoke with Elizabeth (Kanyogonya) who assured me that a flight and one-way travel pass had been arranged. Kateera was taken to the airport and caught KLM Flight 1000 to Entebbe via Amsterdam, at 0630 hrs on Friday 6th January 2006."

Mugume laughed off the claims that Kateera had been deported.

He said Kateera came to Uganda to attend a diplomat's conference in Kampala in January and had since stayed awaiting the formalisation of his appointment. He said the diplomat was "formally accredited as the first secretary in May" and he should be returning to London as "soon as he is ready to travel."

According to the Police report, Kateera took up his role as minister counsellor/deputy head of mission in October last year. A fax from Uganda's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Julius Onen, instructed the then Ugandan High Commissioner, Dr Tomasi Kiryapawo to ensure that Kateera starts his new role.

The report said the Ugandan Embassy staff "were shocked," having never heard of Kateera and finding no evidence of him having a diplomatic/foreign affairs background.

Kassam said he had insulted her by labeling her as an "Indian who should go back home." Kassam is a Ugandan of Asian origin. A file was then opened at Charing Cross Police Station for "a racial incident."

"On 21st December 2005, I contacted Immigration and gave them all the details I had. A trace was finally found on Justinian Kateera, born 12th September 1974. He had landed on 27th September 1994 at Heathrow and been granted a four year visa to study at University in North Wales. It was clear that Kateera was in fact an overstayer," the report reads.

The British High Commission in Kampala could not confirm nor deny the development when contacted by telephone yesterday. The Second Secretary, Mr John Hamilton, referred Daily Monitor to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. "That can best be answered by our office in London," he said. Asked what the official procedure was for deporting diplomats, Hamilton refused to give an answer insisting that this reporter should get the information from London.

Kateera took up his role as deputy head of mission in October last year. A fax from Uganda's then permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Julius Onen informed the then high commissioner, Dr Tomasi Kiryapawo, to effect the appointment.

According to the report, Kateera attended work, "apparently the worse for wear through alcohol" and started shouting at the first secretary, Ms Mumtaz Kassim, "telling her that he was in charge" and "pointing his finger at her face."

Kiryapawo was then away in Kampala. Kateera reportedly told Kassam, a Ugandan of Asian origin that "the Asians had taken all the money out of his country and told her to go home to India." "Naturally, Mumtaz was very upset about this and contacted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Police," the report reads. Kateera was reportedly very rude to his colleagues reportedly because of his connections to Kuteesa.

Meanwhile, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (F&CO) had not yet got any notification of Kateera becoming a diplomat in the UK in order to entitle him to diplomatic immunity. When Kiryapawo returned, he got to know of the situation and asked that it be resolved internally by the embassy.

The report says Smith personally spoke to Kiryapawo on November 7, 2005, who said he was disappointed that Mumtaz had involved the Police. He asked that the crime report be closed which was done.

Kiryapawo, who is now a commissioner at the Electoral Commission in Kampala, could not be reached for a comment. The new High Commissioner, Ms Joan Rwabyomere, could also not be reached.

Kassam, who reportedly is one of the top NRM financiers, has now been appointed the new deputy high commissioner.