Confusion looms as new deputy ISO boss is blocked

There is uncertainty on who is the new deputy director general of Internal Security Organisation (ISO) after security officials gave contradicting names. 
The army spokesperson, Brig Flavia Byekwaso, said in a tweet on October 8 that it was Mr Taban Amin who had been appointed to the position but the senior presidential adviser on military matters, Lt Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso, yesterday said it is Maj Emmy Katabazi.

“That person Katabazi was appointed by the Commander-in-Chief and he was also promoted. That is what I know because the letter passed through my office,” said Gen Nalweyiso, who declined to discuss on the matter further.

Brig Byekwaso in her tweet said: “The public is hereby informed that the new director general of ISO is Lt Col Charles Oluka and his deputy is Mr Taban Amin. Lt Katabazi was only promoted to a Maj.”  
She said her tweet that disputed the appointment of Maj Katabazi was informed by the information she got from Gen Tumwine. “That is the information I got from the minister (Gen Tumwine)”.
Brig Byekwaso promised to verify the content of the letter with the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) in order to clear the air.

Maj Katabazi was working as ISO’s liason officer at the Ministry of Internal Affairs while Mr Amin is the deputy director in charge of West Nile and DR Congo. 
Gen Tumwine said he was not going to entertain questions by journalists on the matter because he acted on what was put to him in writing.
“Don’t waste my time. We don’t do things in the press. We do things in writing,” Gen Tumwine said at the weekend.
President Museveni sacked the former ISO boss, Col Kaka Bagyenda, and replaced him with Lt Col Charles Oluka on October 8.

Col Kaka who was fired early this month was serving without a substantive deputy. The position was being held by Col Don Mugimba in an acting position for more than 10 years. 
During the takeover ceremony of Lt Col Oluka on Wednesday last week, the Security minister allegedly chased Maj Katabazi from the meeting which was also attended by Mr Amin.
Sources say Mr Museveni had sent appointment letters of Lt Col Oluka and Maj Katabazi to the Security minister with copies to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth-Ochola and the CDF, Gen David Muhoozi.

On the day of handover, Maj Katabazi who first went to the army headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala to get his new rank drove in the same convoy with his new boss and Mr Amin in preparation for the handover ceremony at ISO headquarters.
The three proceeded to the boardroom and waited for Gen Tumwine who was the chief guest to preside over the handover ceremony which Col Kaka snubbed. 
In the room, Col Oluka and Maj Katabazi sat together while Mr Amin and Col Mugimba sat across the table near Col Kaka’s empty seat.

Gen Tumwine arrived at around 3pm after all other officers had entered the boardroom. After the officers had saluted him and introduced themselves, Gen Tumwine allegedly directed Maj Katabazi to get out of the meeting. 
Maj Katabazi walked out before Col Mugimba handed over to Col Oluka on behalf of Col Kaka while there were no files to handover to Amin whom Gen Tumwine recognised as the new deputy director general.

Since Wednesday, Maj Katabazi has not returned to ISO.  He was not available for a comment by press time.
But sources close to him say Museveni he is only waiting for the President to decide his fate.