Military cooperation between Egypt and Uganda and expanding security partnership in Africa

The Arab Republic of Egypt and Uganda have strengthened their military relations following a high-level visit by an Egyptian military delegation to Kampala, with the aim of expanding cooperation in security, military training and supporting regional stability in the African continent.

The Egyptian delegation was headed by Major General Khaled Ismail Taha, who held a series of meetings with Ugandan military leaders, discussing prospects for developing defense cooperation between the two countries, in light of growing coordination between Cairo and Kampala on African security issues.

Development of the Ugandan Armed Forces

During the visit, the Ugandan Chief of the Joint Staff, Lieutenant General Jack Sam Bakasomba, gave a comprehensive briefing to the Egyptian delegation on the development of the Ugandan Armed Forces since the country’s independence in 1962, reviewing the most prominent transformations that the army has witnessed over the past decades.

Bakasomba explained that the Ugandan army went through several historical phases, including the overthrow of President Milton Obote’s government in 1971 by Idi Amin Dada, and the subsequent restructuring of the military establishment, before the army was transformed into the “Ugandan Liberation Army” in 1979.

He also reviewed the establishment phase of the “National Resistance Army” after the guerrilla war that broke out in 1981 and resulted in Yoweri Kaguta Museveni coming to power, noting that the armed forces were officially renamed in 1995 to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

Supporting African unity

The Ugandan Chief of the Joint Staff affirmed his country’s commitment to supporting African unity and enhancing regional security, noting the participation of Ugandan forces in a number of peacekeeping missions on the continent, particularly in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The presentation given to the Egyptian delegation also covered the military training system in Uganda, from basic training programs to advanced courses offered by the National Defense College, as part of efforts to develop the combat and leadership capabilities of the armed forces.

For his part, Major General Khaled Ismail Taha praised the warm reception given to the Egyptian delegation, stressing Cairo’s keenness to strengthen partnerships with African countries in various fields.

He explained that the visit aims to expand cooperation between Egypt and Uganda in the fields of defense and military training, in addition to supporting economic cooperation, scientific exchange, and enhancing security coordination between the two countries.

This cooperation comes within the framework of the historical relations that unite Cairo and Kampala, and the common interests aimed at supporting security and stability and promoting integration among the countries of the African continent.