ISO rejects proposal to share offices with RDCs

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The Internal Security Organisation (ISO) has rejected a proposal by MPs to jointly construct offices with resident district commissioners (RDCs) across the country.

The matter came up on January 19, 2026, during a meeting with the Presidential Affairs Committee. When it emerged that the body requires sh140 billion to set up field stations countrywide, but only sh4.8 billion is available.

This was after the committee chairperson, Alex Bakunda Byarugaba (Isingiro South, NRM), and Kiruhura district woman representative Jennifer Muheesi (NRM) questioned the rationale behind separate offices for small teams.

“The other concern is putting up a building for only three people. And then, the other ones, the RDCs, are also putting up another building for other three people. This is one government almost doing something that is similar. How about you join hands and put up one building that has levels?” Muheesi posed.

“Even where I have been and where I have worked. The offices of the RDC and those of the DISO are in the same building and work very comfortably together. So, if we combine these efforts, we could achieve a lot more. Anyway, that is just a recommendation; it depends on the two institutions to create a harmonious working relationship. We are not going to force it down your throat,” Byarugaba said.

“And the RDC is the head of security,” Benjamin Kamukama (Ruhaama East) supplemented.

ISO responds

However, the ISO director in charge of finance and logistics, Ken Tumwebaze, explained that, although both RDCs and ISO operate under the Office of the President, their methods of work differ and housing them together could compromise each other’s independence.

“We are all departments under the Office of the President, but our methods of work may be different. If you just bring all departments under one roof, one department, which could just be trying to check on the other, could just be compromised,” Tumwebaze cautioned.

“I will say, I am the one accommodating you, so you are not supposed to write a bad report on me. So, why can’t we separate them? Let the RDC have a separate office and a DISO have a separate office, and if they want to compare notes, they meet in a certain board room and share notes,” he added.

Flamboyant lifestyle

That said, earlier on Muheesi had tasked ISO officials, who were led by deputy director general Tony Kinyera Apecu, about growing negligence and unwarranted flamboyance of his staff.

“I am concerned with the introduction of DISOs at functions. Where there is a wedding or any other function, and the DISO is being introduced. I find it very funny,” Muheesi stated.

“If a wrongdoer is attending that same function, and then the GISO operatives are being introduced. I don’t know whether it… [hesitates], because I am not in security, but it is just a concern I realised and since you are here, I felt it's important to bring it up,” she added.

Officials said they had taken note of the concern.