President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday promoted Internal Security Organisation’s (ISO) Dr Tom Magambo to the rank of Major and appointed him Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Uganda Police Force.

At the time of his appointment, Magambo who is a PhD holder and an expert in data analysis, was the unit coordinator of the Eastern Africa Fusion and Liaison Unit (EA-FLU) in Entebbe, which is an intelligence sharing and liaison mechanism whose membership is comprised of Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

The defence ministry’s acting spokesperson Lt Col Ronald Kakurungu while confirming the appointment of Maj. Gen. Tumusiime Katsigazi as the Deputy Inspector General of Police in a press release dated January 25, said “In the same appointment orders, the President promoted Private Magambo of ISO to the rank of Major and appointed him the Director Criminal Investigations of the Uganda Police Force.”

On Tuesday night the Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola had congratulated both his incoming deputy and CID director.

"The IGP would like to greatly thank His Excellency the President for the appointment of Maj. Gen. Katsigazi as the D/IGP and Major Magambo as the Director, CID,” Ochola said.

The IGP said that the officers bring diverse experience to their new roles.

“The IGP welcomes and congratulates the DIGP and Director CID, on the call of delivering leadership and stewardship of the Uganda Police Force as we protect and serve our motherland,” Ochola added.

Magambo is credited with carrying out a series of successful investigations in ISO that had greatly aided in intelligence sharing within the region and security sources say the President hoped he would use his experience in helping the Police in its investigations.

The EA-FLU was officially launched on May 23rd 2018 in Entebbe arising from a resolution of the 455th African Union Peace and Security Council Summit that was held on 2nd September 2014 in Nairobi – Kenya.

The summit noted the growing threat of terrorism and trans-national organized crimes on the continent and directed partner states to establish action-oriented process for intelligence sharing and security cooperation.

The EA-FLU was therefore established to coordinate exchange of actionable Intelligence, analysis and operations on the common threats in the region.

Who is Akullo?

Akullo was appointed CID head in 2011 and had almost spent a decade in office.

In 2011, she made headlines when she investigated the Office of the Prime Minister scandal and the theft of sh169 billion from the public service ministry which led to successful prosecution.

However, she fell out of favour with the former Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura and was briefly side-lined. 

Some of the CID investigative works were then given to other units set up in the Police like the Special Investigations Unit.

By press time, Akullo's new assignment had not been communicated by Police and it is also not known why she has been out of public eye for several months.