Gen Mbadi, UK Army Chief Discuss Strengthening Defence Cooperation

The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi on Thursday met Lt Gen Roly Walker, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations) for His Majesty’s Armed Forces (United Kingdom) at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters, Mbuya.

The duo discussed various issues aimed at understanding the different security perspectives and deepening the existing levels of defence cooperation between the two armed forces in an effort to cope with the ever-dynamic security challenges, according to a statement on the UPDF website.

Uganda and the United Kingdom enjoy long-standing relations with the UPDF and the UK Armed Forces being at the heart of this cooperation. This co-operation has been through different aspects. The UPDF has a long tradition of sending its junior officers and officer cadets to the UK military academies for training.

The United Kingdom Armed Forces have equally offered training to UPDF troops especially those involved in Peacekeeping Missions in Somalia and they also in the recent past trained UPDF Communications Officers and media staff on media planning and strategic communication.

Present at the meeting were the Commander of Land Force Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, the Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence Brig Abdul Rugumayo, the Defence Spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, the Military Assistant to the CDF BrigTingira Irumba. Lt Gen Walker was accompanied by Brig Ronnie Walker, Lt Col Barrington Barnes, Lt Col Damian Flanagan, and Simon Tucker among others.