By James Alomu
The Minister for Security in the Office of the President, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Jim Katugugu Muhwezi, has called upon District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) and Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) across the Teso sub-region to ramp up intelligence gathering and surveillance to protect the region's hard-earned peace.
Speaking during a recent interview, Minister Muhwezi emphasized that proactive and effective intelligence operations are vital for identifying and neutralizing security threats before they can escalate into violence.
To underscore the critical role of robust intelligence networks, Muhwezi pointed to the recent arrest of former army officer General Peter Elwelu. According to the minister, intelligence reports had established that Elwelu was allegedly plotting to organize a rebel group aimed at destabilizing the Teso sub-region.
He defended the security operation that led to Elwelu’s arrest, citing it as a prime example of how timely intelligence-led interventions can successfully forestall activities that threaten national peace and stability.
Beyond conventional security duties, Muhwezi challenged grassroots intelligence personnel to expand their scope and take an active role in monitoring the implementation of government programs. He urged DISOs and GISOs to ensure that socioeconomic interventions genuinely reach their intended beneficiaries and are not hijacked or diverted by corrupt officials entrusted with public resources.
The minister specifically directed security officers to keep a close watch on government funding allocated for schools, roads, healthcare facilities, and other vital development initiatives. He tasked them with tracking how these funds are utilized and decisively reporting cases of corruption, financial mismanagement, and theft.
"Security officers have a fundamental responsibility to protect public resources by ensuring that money allocated for development delivers the intended services to our communities," Muhwezi stated.
Muhwezi’s directives come as part of ongoing national efforts to consolidate peace and stability in the Teso sub-region, an area that has historically suffered the impacts of past insurgencies.
He concluded by calling for heightened vigilance, seamless intelligence coordination, and strict accountability among security personnel, reiterating that safeguarding peace must go hand in hand with ensuring that government development programs tangibly benefit ordinary citizens.
