Uganda and the United States have reinforced their military partnership following a high-level engagement between the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and a delegation from the U.S. Army War College in Kampala.
The meeting, hosted by the Chief Joint Staff (CJS) of UPDF, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba on behalf of the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, took place at the Chieftaincy of Defence Intelligence and Security in Mbuya.
Lt Gen Bakasumba briefed the delegation on Uganda’s military evolution, describing a journey from the colonial-era King’s African Rifles to the modern, professional UPDF.
“Our history is long, complex, and transformative,” he said. “At every stage, we have grown stronger, more organised, and more professional.”
He said the UPDF has built strong internal training systems, enabling it to prepare personnel from basic to advanced strategic levels, while still embracing international partnerships.
“Today, we are able to train our personnel from the basic level all the way to advanced strategic courses. However, we continue to welcome partnerships that enhance our capabilities and interoperability,” he said.
Lt Gen Bakasumba highlighted Uganda’s leading role in regional peacekeeping, particularly its deployment to Somalia in 2007 under AMISOM, now transitioned to ATMIS and AUSSOM.
“Somalia is almost 800 nautical miles away, but we responded because Africa needed us,” he said.
He praised the United States for its continued support in logistics, training, and equipment, describing the relationship as critical.
He said the Uganda–US defence partnership remains “one of our most important and reliable military-to-military partnerships.”
The UPDF, he added, continues operations in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, targeting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in coordination with regional partners.
“When your neighbour’s house catches fire, you help to put it out,” he said.
Leading the U.S. delegation, Col Miller Ronald, commended Uganda’s role in promoting regional peace and stability.
“The UPDF is widely recognized for its active contribution to peace and security across the region,” he said.
He noted that the visit offered American military leaders an opportunity to better understand Africa’s evolving geopolitical importance.
“For a long time, Africa-related content within the institution remained limited, leaving many upcoming American strategic leaders inadequately informed about the continent’s evolving geopolitical importance. With Africa’s influence growing globally, this knowledge gap needed urgent attention,” he said.
Col Ronald said Uganda remains a key destination for such engagements, given its role in counterterrorism operations and regional peacekeeping missions.
The meeting was attended by senior UPDF officers and representatives from the U.S. defence establishment.
