Internal Security Organisation (ISO) is the
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The ...
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government i ...
's counter intelligence agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to Uganda's policy makers. It also engages in covert activities at the request of the
President of Uganda
The president of the Republic of Uganda is the head of state and the head of government of Uganda. The president leads the executive branch of the government of Uganda and is the commander-in-chief of the Uganda People's Defence Force.
The ...
. Founded in 1986, the organisation took over the duties first performed by Military Intelligence. Its headquarters are in
Nakasero
Nakasero is a hill and neighborhood in the centre of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. Nakasero is important to Uganda's economy and politics, as it is home to Kampala's central business district and several government offices, ...
,
Kampala
Kampala (, ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,680,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and R ...
.
History and function
ISO was established by an Act of Parliament, the Security Organisations Act 1987. Like all intelligence organisations, its main function is to ensure the stability and longevity of the state. It does this through monitoring priority government programmes that are critical to the well being of the state, as well as collecting intelligence on locally based groups engaging in or intending to engage in acts of subversion, sabotage or destabilising the country.
Director general
The first director general was
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...
Jim Katugugu Muhwezi. He led ISO from 1986 until 1996. He is the longest serving spy chief at the organization to date. He recruited and trained Dr Amos Mukumbi and Brigadier Ronnie Balya, each of whom was later to serve as director general. Under the Director General (DG), are a number of directors who report directly to the DG. Others who have served as director generals at ISO include: Philip Idro,
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on th ...
Henry Tumukunde, Brigadier Elly Kayanja, Dr Amos Mukumbi, Brigadier Ronnie Balya, and Colonel Kaka Bagyenda. As of October 2020, the ISO Director General is Lieutenant Colonel Charles Oluka, effective 8 October 2020.
Composition
ISO is composed of professional intelligence officers recruited from all over Uganda and trained at its training institute, the Institute of Intelligence and Security Studies. Upon being passed out, the operatives are sworn to protect Ugandans and their property and are deployed all over the country. They include PISO's, GISO's, DISO's and RISO's..
See also
*Government of Uganda
*External Security Organisation
References
External links
Museveni wants spy agencies overhauled
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Government agencies of Uganda
Intelligence agencies
Organizations established in 1986
1986 establishments in Uganda
Uganda People's Defence Force