“Friendship between states, like that between men is cemented in times that test them”, Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba said, quoting a maxim he keeps by his desk as he bid farewell to His Excellency Vladlen Semivolos, the outgoing Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Uganda, at the end of a tour defined by deepening military cooperation.
During a farewell call at Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe, Gen Kainerugaba thanked the envoy for advancing the countries’ long‑standing partnership.
He said the bond “remains unbreakable, rooted in a shared history and a modern commitment to regional stability.”
Gen MK pointed to Russian support for the UPDF’s modernization and professionalization, calling the technical cooperation and specialized collaboration during Ambassador Semivolos’s tenure “invaluable to Uganda’s national security framework” and crediting it with strengthening the force’s ability to “neutralize threats, secure borders, and ensure operational success across various missions.”
He described Russia’s military support as “a clear reflection of the depth and strength of the bilateral relationship.”
Ambassador Semivolos, reflecting on four years and five months in Kampala, said ties had been “significantly consolidated.”
He noted ongoing work to formalize cooperation through memoranda of understanding in tourism, agriculture and immigration, and said Uganda and Russia will soon conclude a reciprocal visa‑waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders as part of a broader MOU to be signed shortly.
While wishing the ambassador success in future assignments, Gen Kainerugaba assured him of the UPDF’s readiness to cultivate “an even more robust military and diplomatic relationship for the future.”
He added that regular high‑level exchange visits have become “a testament to the closeness of the two nations.”
The meeting was attended by senior UPDF officers: Chief Joint Staff Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba; SFC Chief of Staff Brig Gen Paul Namawa; Joint Staff Logistics Brig Gen Godwin Karugaba; and Marine Brigade Commander Brig Gen Micheal Nyarwa
