ENTEBBE, Uganda — General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) of Uganda, welcomed a high-level Russian military delegation to the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe on Thursday, underscoring strengthening ties between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Russian Armed Forces.
The Russian delegation, sent by the Russian Minister of Defense, was tasked with exploring and enhancing strategic cooperation between the two nations’ armed forces. Lt. Gen. James Mugira, Managing Director of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the business arm of the UPDF, also attended the meeting.
This high-profile engagement follows Gen. Muhoozi’s recent visit to Moscow, where he led a Ugandan military delegation to discuss similar issues. The CDF’s office stated that the meeting aimed to strengthen mutual defense interests and explore new areas of collaboration.
Gen. Muhoozi has been actively fostering military ties with Russia, having recently met with Maj. Gen. Sergey Marchuk, who has been assigned to Uganda to oversee military cooperation. These discussions have centered on enhancing operational and strategic collaboration between the two nations.
The diplomatic relationship between Russia and Uganda, established on October 13, 1962, has spanned over six decades. Uganda hosts a representative office of Rostec, Russia’s state-owned corporation, which also supports Rosoboronexport’s interests in the country.
Russia has recently committed to establishing Uganda as a regional hub for the development, upgrading, and maintenance of Russian military equipment and technology. Uganda has been a significant customer of Russian military hardware, including war jets, helicopters, artillery, and reconnaissance equipment.
Highlighting this partnership, President Yoweri Museveni recently inaugurated the first-ever overhauled and upgraded Russian Type helicopter in sub-Saharan Africa at the Pro Heli Plant International Services in Nakasongola Air Base, central Uganda.
In May 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the deepening cooperation between Kampala and Moscow in several strategic areas, including the development of satellites, remote sensing technologies, and land and space infrastructure for both military and civilian applications.
This meeting between Gen. Muhoozi and the Russian delegation signifies a new chapter in Uganda’s defense relationships, promising enhanced collaboration in military and technological advancements. As Uganda continues to bolster its defense capabilities, the strengthening of ties with Russia represents a critical aspect of its strategic military planning and regional influence.
The growing partnership comes amid a complex geopolitical landscape, with Western nations closely monitoring Russia’s expanding influence in Africa. Uganda’s deepening military ties with Russia could have implications for its relationships with other international partners and its role in regional security dynamics.
As this cooperation develops, questions arise about the long-term impact on Uganda’s military capabilities, its strategic positioning in East Africa, and the potential economic and political implications of closer alignment with Russia in the defense sector.
