The Federal Republic of Germany Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Matthias Schauer on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/ Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) headquarters in Mbuya.
In a brief meeting, the Ambassador and his hosts discussed issues of mutual interest in defence partnership and called on the UPDF leadership to resume from where the two countries stopped when several programs were disrupted by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu, the UPDF Joint Chief of Staff who represented the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi commended the German Ambassador for the cordial defence cooperation especially in training and defence diplomacy attained by the two countries.
The two sides also discussed UPDF AMISOM engagements in Somalia and the role of the European Union where Germany is member and has played a role to create a resemblance of peace.
Ambassador Schauer called on UPDF to continue playing a vital role in Somalia as the vanguard of the Mission.
Gen Musanyufu reiterated Uganda’s position on the drawdown of AMISOM troop contributing countries slated for next year as an act that should not be determined by time but rather by existing conditions in Somalia.
This, he said, is in the interest of not overturning achievements and sacrifices already made to put Somalia Bach to its feet despite the donor fatigue.
The meeting was also attended by the Germany Defence Attache to Uganda Lt Col Stefan Hasler, a Staff officer in the office of CDF, Col Charles Kisembo and deputy defence spokesperson Lt Col Deo Akiiki among others.
