Democratic consolidation and intelligence oversight in Uganda: implications for emerging democracies

Abstract

The book is about intelligence oversight and the promotion of democracy. It explains intelligence management, primarily focusing on intelligence oversight institutions and mechanisms. The book brings out an assessment on the role of intelligence oversight institutions and mechanisms in the promotion of democracy. The book reveals that intelligence oversight in Uganda is not explicit because the intelligence legislation is also not clear about it. The only meaningful intelligence oversight is assumed to be done by the agency internal administration under the auspice of the President. The other existing institutions like Parliament, the Inspectorate of Government, the Judiciary, are not equal to the task of overseeing the intelligence services effectively. This is due to the uniqueness of the intelligence sector; in its nature and operations of working under total secrecy compared to other sectors of government. The book therefore, recommends for an intelligence review which should end up with recommendations for amending the intelligence law to harmonise it with other recently enacted laws aimed at consolidating democratic governance.