Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Minister of State for Internal Affairs, General David Muhoozi, have taken opposing positions on whether Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT) officers should be identifiable during operations.
David Muhoozi, the former Chief of Defence Forces and now serving as Minister of State for Internal Affairs, has taken a firm stance on security personnel being identifiable while on duty. He argued that JATT officers covering their faces with hoods is “unacceptable,” citing the need for transparency, public accountability, and trust in security operations.
“There is no reason for officers to be masked while on duty. Security personnel must be identifiable to enhance transparency and accountability,” said David Muhoozi.
In stark contrast, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the current Chief of Defence Forces, rejected this position outright. He insisted that security personnel have no obligation to be publicly identifiable, a view that aligns with his broader advocacy for a more aggressive and flexible security approach.
“I disagree with General David Muhoozi. There is no requirement for security personnel to be identified! None at all!” General Kainerugaba declared in response.
“Wearing a balaclava is standard procedure amongst all Special Forces in the world. Here is a sample from the British, French, and Russian Special Forces,” General Kainerugaba stated before adding, “All our Special Forces, including JATT, will continue wearing balaclavas!”.
The Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JATF) is a Ugandan security agency established under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002. Its primary focus was combating the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which the U.S. designated a terrorist organization in 2001.
Working alongside the Internal Security Organization (ISO) and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) from where its officers are drawn, JATF has successfully thwarted multiple terrorism incidents while conducting most of its operations covertly.
