By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. The Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and his Ethiopian counterpart, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula recently held talks on military cooperation between their respective militaries. The discussions took place on 14th December 2024, during General Muhoozi’s high-level visit to Addis Ababa. His delegation included senior UPDF officials, including Deputy Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, Commander of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and Brig Gen Anthony Lukwago Mbuusi, Sector One Contingent Commander under ATMIS, among other senior UPDF officers.
The discussions
According to the joint statement that was issued by both Uganda and Ethiopian military chiefs, their discussions focused on traditional ties between Uganda and Ethiopia. Key areas of focus included joint military training, intelligence sharing, and addressing mutual security threats in the region. General Muhoozi also Uganda’s First Son expressed gratitude for Ethiopia’s hospitality and described the discussions as highly productive. He highlighted that the two nations share a rich history of collaboration, and this meeting reaffirms their commitment to peace and security in the region. General Muhoozi’s visit marks another chapter in the longstanding ties between the two nations. The latest talks reflect both nations’ commitment to fostering cooperation in security and defence as they navigate shared challenges in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Behind the frequent visits
Ethiopia’s CDF Field Marshal Jula reciprocated the appreciation, commending Uganda’s role in regional stability and reaffirming Ethiopia’s dedication to strengthening ties. He stressed that the partnership between the two countries’ forces is crucial for addressing shared challenges and maintaining regional peace. This visit follows Field Marshal Jula’s trip to Uganda in July, where he met General Muhoozi and the president of the Republic of Uganda H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Uganda to strengthen security ties. General Muhoozi also Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations has been a frequent visitor to Ethiopia, with his 2022 visit including discussions with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and top Ethiopian military leaders. The ongoing exchange of high-level visits underlines the deepening military and diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
Uganda and Ethiopia’s cooperation
In July this year during an Ethiopian CDF visit to Uganda, Gen Muhoozi praised the excellent military cooperation between the UPDF and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), which he attributed to the strong relations between the two nations. According to Muhoozi, this cooperation has been reinforced by high-level visits and bilateral talks between military leaders from both countries. “The regions now known as Uganda and Ethiopia have been linked for over 2,000 years, with trade dating back to 100 AD with the Aksum Empire,” He said. Both countries have contributed troops to the African Union and United Nations Peacekeeping Missions, particularly in Somalia, through AMISOM and ATMIS. In 2023, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Uganda, Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu hailed the ‘ever-growing’ bilateral ties between the two countries. He said that the trade relations between Uganda and Ethiopia are improving but points out that there is still a” job to be done” for the two countries to reach their trade volume potential. Yimenu highlighted that Uganda and Ethiopia have the geographical location and economic zone to their advantage, however, the two countries have not done enough to promote trade between them. Available data shows that in 2021, Uganda exported US 2.44 million to Ethiopia. The main products that Uganda exported to Ethiopia were concentrated milk (USD 1.24M), rubber tires (USD 351,000), and toilet paper (USD 212,000). On the other hand, Ethiopia exported USD 1.22M to Uganda. The main products that Ethiopia exported to Uganda were eggs (USD 409,000), poultry (USD 295,000), and vegetable and mineral carvings ($271,000).
In the past 26 years, the exports of Uganda to Ethiopia have increased at an annualized rate of 13.7 percent from USD 86,100 in 1995 to USD 2.44M in 2021, while those from Ethiopia to Uganda have increased at an annualized rate of 2.33 percent, from $671,000 in 1995 to USD 1.22M in 2021. Uganda’s CDF emphasized the history of collaboration and mutual support between the UPDF and ENDF, influenced by their national interests and regional security concerns. “We fondly recall our joint operations with our Ethiopian brothers in 1995 and 1996 against Bashir’s Sudan Armed Forces and the Lord’s Resistance Army. These operations, called Mwisho 1 and Mwisho 2, aimed to eliminate the LRA in South Sudan and support the SPLA,” the CDF remarked. During Uganda’s top military officer’s recent visit to Ethiopia, Deputy CDF and Inspector General of the UPDF, Lt Gen Sam Okiding, commended the Ethiopian Air Force Academy. He expressed optimism about potential cooperation between the UPDF and the Ethiopian military in the air force sector.
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