By our reporter
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,the commander in chief of the Armed forces has awarded his former ISO Boss Brig.Gen.Ronnie Balya with a ‘Rwenzori medal’ for exemplary sacrifice exhibited during the 1986 NRA guerrilla war. This was on Tuesday during the 37th Tarehe Sita celebrations held at Boma grounds,Butaleja District. Ronnie was honoured alongside the Force’s mouth piece Brig.Richard Karemire among others.
Who Is Balya?
Balya was born in 1961 in Kabarole District in Toro sub-region, Western Region. He studied at Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree. He continued with his studies at University of Nairobi, Kenya where he earned a master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Studies. Brig. Balya was selected by the Commander in Chief to attend a strategic command and leadership course at the National Defence College in Nairobi, Kenya where he excelled. He has done various intelligence courses in Russia, America and Britain and is ranked one of Museveni’s most trusted blue eyed boys in the intelligence system.
Military career
He joined the National Resistance Army in 1985. He served initially as a district internal security officer in Northern Uganda and Western Uganda. In 1997, Brig. Balya was moved to headquarters where he served in various capacities like director of the ISO inspectorate, director analysis and director technical Intelligence. In August 2006, Balya was appointed deputy director general of ISO.
On July 27, 2010, Balya was appointed director general of ISO, replacing Amos Makumbi. In December 2010, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and in February 2014, this late Bishop Balya’s son was promoted to the rank of brigadier. (https://stratnewsglobal.com/)
Other responsibilities:
In addition to his duties at ISO, he served as the chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee [brings together all the Intelligence Agencies] and as the secretary to the National Security Council Chaired by H.E. the President and composed of Ministers and Security Chiefs that handle National Defence and Security matters .  In July 2016, he caused a stir when he told the Ugandan cabinet during a retreat in Kyankwanzi District that “corruption was killing Government”.
Balya was recently moved from ISO and appointed South Sudanese Ambassador, an appointment he respectfully declined to take up due to reasons related to his personal security.
Pundits within the power house maintain this Russia trained spy still does highly classified covert ans special operations for his master.
