Brigadier-General Charles Oluka, the head of Uganda’s Internal Security Organisation (ISO), has passed away at the age of 57. He died late Tuesday at Seguku Hospital, where he was rushed after experiencing sudden health complications. His death was confirmed by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Faruk Kirunda, who shared the tragic news via a statement on Wednesday evening.
“The sad news about the unexpected passing of Brigadier-General Charles Oluka, Director General of ISO, has just come in. He passed away after being admitted to Seguku Hospital this evening,” Kirunda said.
At the time of his death, the cause remained unannounced, though sources suggest that Oluka had been struggling with a pre-existing heart condition.
Brig. Gen. Oluka’s career spanned decades of service to Uganda’s national security. He initially joined the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in 1987, before being commissioned as an officer in 1991. Throughout his career, he participated in numerous military training programs, both in Uganda and abroad, including courses at Kaweweta Military Training School, the Junior Staff and Command Course, and advanced national security studies at Israel’s Galileo College.
Before being appointed as the Director General of ISO in 2020, Oluka served as the Director of Technical Services within the organization until 2018. He was promoted to the top position of ISO on October 8, 2020, after the removal of Colonel Kaka Bagyenda, his predecessor, and his deputy, Don Mugimba.
His leadership in the ISO was notable for its focus on internal security, a role that placed him at the center of Uganda’s intelligence operations during a period of heightened regional instability.
President Museveni, who appointed Oluka as ISO’s Director General, has yet to comment publicly on his passing, but tributes have poured in from various sectors of Uganda’s security and political landscape. The country’s security community, in particular, has expressed its grief over the loss of a stalwart leader whose contributions to national security were invaluable.
The late General’s sudden death has left a void in the leadership of Uganda’s intelligence apparatus, with many reflecting on his work and legacy in securing the nation’s peace and stability.
