Col Kaka tells supporters not to celebrate his appointment

KALANGALA – The new Internal Security Organisation (ISO) boss Col (rtd) Frank Bagyenda Kaka has told his well wishers not rush celebrating his appointment because it’s not a walk in park to transform Uganda’s security.

“Actually many have been calling to congratulate me and I wondered why I am not going for celebrations and luxury. I am visualising and consolidating the type of internal security this country needs. So Ugandans have to pray for me to achieve this,” he said.

Col. Kaka, 65, was speaking to journalists at his Panaroma cottages, Lutoboka Bay, Kalangala District, on Tuesday.

 He said although he would accept the appointment and execute duties assigned to him, Ugandans ought to understand that this is not just fun but a responsibility that needs soberness.

"I have been used to the Ssese Island environment, now everything is going to change since I would have limited time here,” he said.

A graduate of Commerce from Makerere University, Col. Kaka worked for the Uganda Tea Authority before joining the Ministry of Public Service.

 He later joined the army in 1980.

In 1993, he retired from active military service at a rank of major and resorted to farming and eco- tourism in the Lutoboka Bay in the Ssese Islands.

His efforts under the Kalangala Fisheries Organisation that worked to fight illegal fishing kept him in touch with different security agencies in Masaka Armoured Brigade and the Kabirango Special Forces Barracks in Lake Victoria.

His eco-tourism site Panaroma cottages turned into a command centre for different security agencies in Masaka sub region and across Lake Victoria.

 “We would hold security briefings in the area and some of us wondered why he had first hand information about so many security developments even before people in the mainstream security detail in the region could be aware,” Mr Said Richard Wamala, one of the security operatives in the region says.

The retired soldier, together with a host of other Reserve Force operatives was promoted to the rank of a colonel in 2014.

 “And this is a test to everyone especially the retired soldiers to remain calm and disciplined,” he said.

Asked how he would manage the docket after 23 years in retirement, Col Kaka said he would seek advice from his predecessors.

 “Like I have been fighting illegal fishing, I will continue helping youth to avoid engaging in illegal activities and subversion which would cost them lives but rather engage in agriculture and many other income-generating activities for development,” Col. Kaka said.