Ronnie Balya
Ronnie Balya is a Ugandan military officer currently serving at the rank of Brigadier General in the Uganda People's Defence Force. He is currently serving as Uganda's ambassador to South Sudan, based in Juba, from 2017. Before that, from 2010 until 2017, he was the Director General of the Internal Security Organisation.
Background and education
Balya was born 1961 in Kabarole District in Toro sub-region, in the Western Region of Uganda. He studied at Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree. He continued with his studies at University of Nairobi where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Diplomacy and International Studies. He was selected by the Commander in Chief to attend a Strategic Command and Leadership Course at the National Defence College, Kenya, in Nairobi. He has also studied in various intelligence courses in Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.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, 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 27 July 2010, Balya was appointed director general of ISO, replacing Amos Mukumbi who was given another engagement in government. In December 2010, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. In February 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier.