In a demonstration of the strength of military cooperation, the Chief of General Staff of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), Major General Zépherin Mamadou, paid a courtesy visit to Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe.
During their meeting, Major General Mamadou expressed his gratitude for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces’ (UPDF) support under the ongoing military cooperation agreement, citing the crucial role it has played in enhancing FACA’s capabilities.
The training provided by the UPDF has been instrumental in filling command gaps and rebuilding FACA’s military capacity, allowing the Central African Republic to organize its recent elections in a smooth security environment.
Major General Mamadou commended the UPDF’s commitment to capacity-building initiatives and conveyed regards from President H.E. Faustin-Archange Touadéra and the nation’s Ministry of Defence, thanking General Kainerugaba for the invitation.
In response, General Kainerugaba, popularly known as MK, welcomed Major General Mamadou and reaffirmed the UPDF’s pan-African spirit and commitment to supporting FACA through capacity-building initiatives.
The two military leaders discussed plans for future cooperation, including the CAR military chief’s attendance at Uganda’s 45th Tarehe Sita celebrations slated for February 6.
The meeting underscores the strong military ties between Uganda and the Central African Republic, as well as the UPDF’s continued commitment to peace and security in the region.
The meeting between Major General Zépherin Mamadou and General Muhoozi Kainerugaba comes at a time when President Yoweri Museveni is advocating for stronger regional cooperation among African states. He believes that a unified approach would enable the continent to better address global challenges and threats
In recent years, President Museveni has been vocal about the need for an East African Federation, which would integrate the armed forces of countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This proposed federation aims to strengthen regional defence capabilities and ensure long-term stability.
The Ugandan President’s call for greater military cooperation is driven by concerns about the continent’s vulnerability to external threats. He has cited the example of the invasion of Libya, which he believes could have been prevented if African countries had worked together more effectively.
The meeting between Major General Mamadou and General Kainerugaba reflects the growing importance of regional cooperation in East Africa. Their discussion likely centered on ways to enhance military cooperation and build on existing partnerships between Uganda and the Central African Republic
Tarehe Sita is a Swahili phrase which translates to 6th Day in English. In the context of this article, Uganda remembers the 6th of February,1981 when the first bullet was fired triggering the five-year popular liberation struggle that ousted the regime of Gen Tito Okello Lutwa.
This year’s Tarehe Sita is being marked under the theme “Defending the gains of the revolution and honoring the sacrifices of the freedom fighters: A call for national unity, peace and socio-economic transformation.” The national celebrations will take place in Kisoro.
