President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended the Russian Federation for its continuous military technical support and defense cooperation with Uganda, tracing the bilateral relationship back to historical global anti-colonial movements.
The President made the remarks on Friday, October 9, 2026, during a meeting at State House Entebbe with a visiting Russian military delegation led by the Head of Russian Military Experts in Uganda, Maj. Gen. Sergei Marchuk. The high-level meeting took place on the sidelines of Uganda’s official 64th Independence Day celebrations.
Describing the ties between Kampala and Moscow as enduring, President Museveni highlighted Russia's long-standing support toward Uganda's armed forces and national stability.
“This cooperation and friendship between Uganda and Russia is historical. It started in 1917 with the Bolsheviks,” President Museveni said. He expressed gratitude to Russia for its support to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) across key installations in Magamaga, Entebbe, Kalangala, and Karama, pledging to formally write to Russian President Vladimir Putin to convey Uganda’s official appreciation.
Briefing the President, Maj. Gen. Marchuk confirmed that the Russian technical team had fulfilled all commitments made during their previous annual consultation, successfully completing several military infrastructure projects designed to boost the UPDF’s operational capabilities.
The completed works include a specialized armaments and military equipment depot in Magamaga, a quick-response station and dedicated maintenance center for watercraft in Entebbe, and a floating berth equipped with modern technical apparatus at the Marines pier in Port Alice. In addition, the Russian team deployed a mobile command post at the Marines School in Kalangala and established a multimedia training facility for BRDM-2M armored reconnaissance crews at the Mechanised Warfare College in Karama.
Looking forward, Maj. Gen. Marchuk proposed extending the Russian language training program for UPDF personnel starting December 1, 2026, backed by a five-year supplementary agreement featuring five dedicated language instructors. President Museveni welcomed the training proposal and reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to strengthening bilateral military and economic ties.
