Strengthening Uganda–U.S. Military Cooperation
On April 9, 2026, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces hosted a delegation from the U.S. Army War College at the Chieftaincy of Defence Intelligence and Security headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.
The high-level engagement focused on military transformation, regional security dynamics across East and Central Africa, and the continued strengthening of defence cooperation between Uganda and the United States. The meeting formed part of ongoing military-to-military exchanges aimed at improving coordination, training, and strategic understanding between partner forces.
Senior Military Leadership in Attendance
The Ugandan delegation was led by Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, Chief of Joint Staff of the UPDF, representing Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. He was joined by senior officers including Brig Gen Godwin Karugaba, who oversees Joint Staff Logistics, and Col Simon Mwebaza from Joint Staff Communications and Technology.
The U.S. delegation was headed by Col Miller Ronald and included the U.S. Defence Attaché to Uganda, Lt Col Christian Noumba. The presence of senior officials from both sides underscored the strategic importance of the engagement.
UPDF Outlines Its Military Transformation Journey
During the discussions, Lt Gen Bakasumba provided a detailed overview of the historical evolution of Uganda’s armed forces, tracing their origins from the King’s African Rifles at independence in 1962, through the Uganda Army era, the National Resistance Army period, and into the modern structure of the UPDF.
He described the transformation as a long and complex process that has steadily improved professionalism, organization, and institutional capacity. A key highlight of his briefing was the UPDF’s growing self-reliance in military training, with the force now conducting programs from basic recruit instruction to advanced strategic-level courses.
Despite this progress, Bakasumba emphasized that Uganda continues to value international partnerships, particularly in enhancing interoperability and shared operational capacity with allied forces.
Uganda’s Role in Regional Security Operations
A significant portion of the discussions centered on Uganda’s contribution to regional peace and stability. The UPDF’s long-standing deployment in Somalia was highlighted as a major commitment to continental security.
Uganda has been the first and longest-serving African troop contributor to missions in Somalia, beginning with AMISOM and transitioning through ATMIS to the current African Union Support and Stabilization Mission. The nearly two-decade engagement was described as a defining contribution to African peace efforts, despite the logistical challenges of operating far from home.
The UPDF also detailed ongoing operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo against the Allied Democratic Forces, conducted at the request of the Congolese government. Additional regional engagement includes support roles and monitoring of instability in South Sudan and Sudan, reflecting what officials described as a practical Pan-African security approach guided by regional solidarity.
U.S. Military Perspective and Academic Exchange
Col Miller Ronald expressed appreciation for the engagement, describing the briefing as highly valuable for U.S. military education and strategic learning.
He noted that the U.S. Army War College is expanding its focus on Africa within its academic programs, acknowledging that the continent’s geopolitical importance has grown significantly in recent years. He added that direct engagements with African militaries provide future U.S. military leaders with critical, ground-level understanding of regional security environments.
Deepening a Strategic Defence Partnership
While no formal agreements were announced, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation in training, capacity building, and professional military exchange programs.
The meeting reflects a broader pattern of international engagement by the UPDF, which regularly hosts foreign delegations to share knowledge on modern warfare, leadership development, and multinational security cooperation.
The discussions ultimately reinforced Uganda’s position as a key regional security actor and an important defence partner of the United States in Africa, while highlighting the UPDF’s continued evolution into a more self-reliant and professionally structured force.
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