In a significant move to bolster bilateral relations, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, held high-level talks with the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E. Lisa Chesney.
The meeting, which took place on Friday afternoon at the Special Forces Command (SFC) Headquarters in Entebbe, centered on a strategic proposal to deploy British military medical personnel to Uganda.
Strengthening the UPDF National Referral Hospital
The core of the discussion involved the potential deployment of UK military medics to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) National Referral Hospital in Entebbe. This initiative aims to:
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Enhance specialized medical capacity within the UPDF.
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Facilitate a skills exchange program between British and Ugandan military health experts.
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Improve healthcare delivery for service members and the general public.
According to officials familiar with the engagement, the proposal is currently under formal review by the UK government.
Expanding UK Support for UPDF Training Schools
Beyond medical cooperation, Gen. Muhoozi and Ambassador Chesney explored avenues for British support toward UPDF training institutions. The focus of these discussions included capacity building, professional military education, and modernizing training modules to meet 21st-century security challenges.
Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, an alumnus of the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, has consistently championed professionalizing the army through international partnerships.
A Growing Uganda-UK Defence Partnership
This engagement marks the second high-level meeting between the CDF and the UK envoy in recent months, following a similar dialogue in October. The frequency of these meetings underscores the deepening security and diplomatic ties between Kampala and London.
During the session, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to mutual respect and agreed to maintain consistent high-level engagements. They emphasized that a strong Uganda-UK partnership is vital for regional stability and counter-terrorism efforts in East Africa.
Why This Matters
The deployment of British military medics would represent a new chapter in the “long-standing relationship” Gen. Muhoozi frequently highlights. It follows other recent collaborations, such as the UPDF’s partnership with Prince Harry’s Invictus Games Foundation, which focuses on the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers.
As the UK government reviews the medic deployment proposal, stakeholders in both nations anticipate a boost in military professionalism and healthcare infrastructure in Uganda.
