Uganda and Zimbabwe have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military ties through enhanced defence intelligence cooperation, focusing on information sharing, early warning systems and joint responses to emerging security threats.
The commitment was made during a Bilateral Defence Intelligence Exchange engagement between the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to discuss emerging security challenges and deepen cooperation.
UPDF Chief of Joint Staff, Lieutenant General Jack Bakasumba, described the engagement as an opportunity for the two countries to draw from their shared history and address security challenges together.
“Security challenges today don’t respect borders. They do not announce themselves in advance,” Lt Gen Bakasumba said, noting that modern security threats are becoming increasingly complex and cannot be effectively addressed by a single country or institution.
“We are stronger when we stand together. We are better prepared when we plan together, and we are more secure when we cooperate. Bilateral engagements such as this one give us the opportunity for candid conversations,” he said.
Lt Gen Bakasumba highlighted the strong bonds between Uganda and Zimbabwe, which are rooted in their shared history, anti-colonial struggles and commitment to African unity.
The UPDF Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Major General Richard Otto, said the visit by the Zimbabwean delegation provided an opportunity to strengthen the longstanding relationship between the two countries’ defence and intelligence institutions.
Maj Gen Otto stressed the need for stronger information sharing to detect terrorist financing, disrupt illicit networks and improve early warning mechanisms.
“Intelligence sharing should help us identify threats early, understand cross-border networks, and support lawful actions by the competent authorities,” Maj Gen Otto said.
Representing the Zimbabwean delegation, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Defence Intelligence, Brigadier General Maxwell Masuku, described the engagement as another chapter in the longstanding relationship between the two defence intelligence organisations.
“It is vital for us to share intelligence and information on mutual interests, and such meetings are a testament to the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries,” Brig Gen Masuku said.
Brig Gen Masuku said the meeting comes at a time of significant changes in the global security environment, with international conflicts, climate change, cyber threats, terrorism, illegal migration and other transnational challenges creating new security pressures for African countries.
Senior and junior UPDF officers attended the engagement.
