President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Arthur Mugenyi as the new Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), replacing the late Brigadier General Charles Oluka.
This reshuffle also brings a new face to the position of Deputy Director General, with Col. Emmy Katabazi being replaced by Tonny Kinyera Apecu.
Katabazi, who had served as the deputy for some time, has been reassigned to a diplomatic role as a deputy ambassador in an undisclosed country.
The Internal Security Organisation (ISO) plays a critical role in safeguarding Uganda’s national security.
As the government’s primary counterintelligence agency, ISO gathers and provides intelligence that supports decision-making at the highest levels of government.
Additionally, the agency carries out covert operations at the President’s discretion. Established in 1986 under the Security Organisations Act of 1987, ISO’s mandate is to ensure national stability by monitoring key government programs vital to the nation’s well-being.
The organization also focuses on detecting and disrupting any subversive or destabilizing activities within Uganda.
Since its inception, ISO has been led by several notable individuals. The first Director General, Maj. Gen. Jim Katugugu Muhwezi, set the foundation for the organization’s growth, leading it from 1986 to 1996 and holding the record as the longest-serving spy chief.
Subsequent leaders have included Philip Idro, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, Maj. Gen. Elly Kayanja, Dr. Amos Mukumbi, Brig. Gen. Ronnie Balya, and Col. Kaka Bagyenda, each contributing to ISO’s evolving role in Uganda’s security apparatus.
At the heart of ISO’s operations is the Director General, who oversees a team of directors, each specializing in different aspects of the agency’s complex mandate.
With the recent leadership changes, all eyes will be on how Mugenyi steers the organization through the challenges of ensuring Uganda’s security in a rapidly changing world
