Editor
The three-day military conference held at Les Vegas Gardens Hotel in Mbarara has successfully concluded, with Lt. Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, Commander of the UPDF Land Forces, expressing deep gratitude to the Presidents of Uganda and Rwanda, H.E. Gen. Yoweri Museveni and H.E. Gen. Paul Kagame, for their continued support and guidance.
“I want to thank the Presidents of the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Rwanda for positively guiding us and encouraging us to meet and address our security challenges. This will go a long way in fostering harmony between our two countries and ensuring socio-economic transformation and prosperity for our people,” stated Lt. Gen. Muhanga.
Presiding over the closing ceremony, Lt. Gen. Muhanga also extended his appreciation to the Chiefs of Defence Forces of both the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for their relentless efforts to enhance the security of both nations.
He underscored the importance of regular meetings as a means of strengthening the relationship between the two armies. “These security meetings are essential in mitigating various issues and facilitating the prosperity of our people. Any differences that may have existed can be streamlined through regular engagements like this one and the recent meeting in Rwanda,” he added.
Lt. Gen. Muhanga described the conference as a significant achievement in increasing cooperation and strengthening the historical ties between the RDF and UPDF. He emphasized that the regular interaction of the two armies is crucial in addressing security challenges.
Maj. Gen. Vincent Nyakarundi, the RDF Army Chief of Staff, echoed these sentiments, expressing his gratitude to the Presidents of Uganda and Rwanda for enabling the commanders to regularly meet and address security issues affecting the region. He also highlighted the need for continued collaboration and coordination between the two armies to prevent potential threats from negative forces.
The UPDF 2nd Infantry Division Commander, Brig. Gen. Paul Muhanguzi, hosted his Rwandan counterparts, RDF 2nd Infantry Division Commander, Brig. Gen. Nelson Rwigema, and RDF 5th Infantry Division Commander, Col. Pascal Munyankindi. Brig. Gen. Muhanguzi noted that since their first meeting in Nyagatare, positive results have been observed. “We found that our proximity units on both sides have adhered to our resolutions,” he said.
The two armies discussed various critical issues concerning border security and resolved to take necessary steps to ensure that operational commanders, tactical units, local communities, and relevant stakeholders move in a direction that promotes security for border communities, both nations, and the region.
The closing ceremony was attended by key military officials, including Maj. Gen. James Birungi, Chief of Defence, Security, and Intelligence of UPDF; Col. Francois Regis, Head of Defence Intelligence of RDF; Brig. Gen. Dr. Emmanuel Shillingi, Uganda’s Defence Advisor to Rwanda; Col. Emmanuel Luzindana, Rwanda’s Defence Advisor to Uganda; as well as brigade commanders, battalion officers, and intelligence officers from both nations.
