The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has held talks with the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, who is in Kampala for the African Defence Chiefs Conference on Military Operations Other Than War.
IGAD is an East African regional body whose member states include Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan. Its secretariat is based in Djibouti.
During the meeting, Dr Workneh and his delegation briefed General Kainerugaba on the work of the body, and the two sides discussed areas of mutual interest, including regional security.
Dr Workneh was accompanied by Ms Bigirwa Joselyn and Ms Hajara Nalwada while the CDF was joined by UPDF Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, and the Joint Staff Training and Doctrine, Maj Gen Wycliffe Keita.
The meeting was one of several bilateral engagements General Kainerugaba has held on the margins of the conference, which opened on 5th October and runs until the 8th at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. It brings together defence and military operations experts from more than 18 countries, African Union (AU) bodies, and commanders from United Nations (UN) and AU peace support missions.
The conference is discussing how African countries can strengthen their response to emerging and non-traditional security threats.