In a move to bolster regional security, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, and Milan, Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Oumar Diarra, have signed a military cooperation agreement. The agreement follows a meeting between Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Maj. Gen. Diarra held in June 2024 at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe. It demonstrates the growing partnership between Uganda and Mali, aimed at combating common security threats and promoting stability between the two African nations.
During today’s discussions at the SFC headquarters, the two defence chiefs acknowledged the importance of strengthening military-to-military cooperation and enhancing the existing memoranda of understanding between the two countries.
Under the agreement, Uganda and Mali will collaborate on various defence initiatives, including joint training exercises, intelligence sharing, and capacity building among other areas. The Cooperation is also expected to boost the capabilities of both nations in addressing security challenges such as terrorism, insurgency, and transnational organized crime.
The signing of the military cooperation agreement comes at a time when Uganda had already started training Malian military officials as evidenced in June 2024 when 19 Malian cadet officers were passed-out at ceremony in Kaweweta which Gen Diarra and his entourage attended.
Later in the evening, Gen, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, hosted a dinner at Ndere Cultural Centre in honor of his Malian counterpart, Maj. Gen. Oumar Diarra, and his delegation. During the dinner, Maj. Gen. Oumar Diarra intimated that he and the delegation had high expectations for this visit, but they had been overwhelmed by the fact that their expectations have been exceeded. Commenting about the performances, the Malian General noted that some of the dances are similar to those in West Africa, particularly within his own tribe.
The Dinner was also attended by Maj. Gen. BD Mugisha, Commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), who also represented the Chief of Defence Forces and other UPDF Generals and senior officers