By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. On the 16th September 2025, the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba arrived in Beijing, China, for high level military engagements. Recently there have been mutual visits by high-ranking security officials between Uganda and China. These security chiefs have been engaging in discussions that are intended to strengthen both countries’ security ties. In August 2024, Uganda’s CDF also first son and Colonel Zhang Hao, the Chinese Military Attaché to Uganda, had a meeting that was held in Uganda at the Special Forces Command (SFC) Headquarters in Entebbe. Colonel Hao’s courtesy visit underscored the deep-rooted and historic relations between the Republic of Uganda and the People’s Republic of China.
Inside the frequent visits
Both countries’ frequent security meetings are focused on strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries. The visit comes as part of Uganda’s broader efforts to strengthen defence and security cooperation with its allies. Since assuming the office of the CDF, Gen Muhoozi also Senior Presidential for Special Operations has met counterparts and military leaders from several countries including Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Ethiopia, Qatar, South Sudan, Qatar, and Mali among others. Lately, the government of Uganda is aiming at modernizing its military forces. This year Uganda has held several meetings on security cooperations with several countries including Germany, Rwanda, South Sudan, France and many more.
Muhoozi’s China tour
Uganda’s CDF and his delegation started his tour on 17th September 2025, by visiting China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), a Chinese state-owned defence company with a core business in aviation products and technology. Uganda’s delegation included Major General Dan Kakono, Commander of the Artillery Division, and Major General Felix Busizoori, Commander of the 4th Division. General Muhoozi was also taken on a guided tour of the cutting-edge technology in various aviation equipment by the Vice President of the facility. During the official visit, the CDF is scheduled to attend a military conference with counterparts from various countries and hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart, in addition to other closed-door engagements. This latest mission to Beijing underscores Uganda’s strategic interest in maintaining strong defence partnerships with China, one of its most consistent allies in both military and economic spheres.
Uganda and China bilateral ties
The two nations’ bilateral ties were established on October 18, 1962. Trade between the two nations totalled over USD 1 billion in 2017. Additionally, Chinese companies have contributed significantly to the building of infrastructure in Uganda. China also owns about 20 percent of Uganda’s debt, equivalent to about USD 1.6 billion.China was one of the first nations to recognize the newly independent nation. In 1971, Uganda was one of 76 nations that voted in favour of Resolution 2758 restoring United Nations (UN) membership to the Chinese government. Following Yoweri Museveni’s rise to power in 1986, the two nations have developed closer ties.
The literature produced and used by the National Resistance Army (NRA), President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s guerilla army that fought in the Luweero bushes from 1981-1986 called its mission a “protracted people’s war.” The doctrine of “people’s war”, sometimes called “protracted people’s war,” guided the vast majority of Africa’s guerrilla movements, including those that sided with the Soviet Union after the Sino-Soviet split of 1960. A new report notes that the above terminology, which was seen as a cheap but effective blueprint for waging war, was part of a larger political context and ideological framework of Chinese professional military education (PME) that China used to influence the organizational development of African guerrilla armies at the time.
President Museveni has also been a great adherent of Chinese ideology constantly referencing Mao and Deng Xiaoping; one of Mao’s successors, in his speeches and writings. In March 2021, Muhoozi then commandant of Special Forces Command (SFC) announced that the elite unit was working with Poly Technologies, a Chinese military contractor that manufactures CS/VP3 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs). Muhoozi met with four officials from Poly Technologies in Uganda.
Security cooperations
Uganda and China enjoy long-standing military ties dating back to 1986, which have encompassed training, technology sharing, and peace support operations.In 2024 General Muhoozi met the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda days after meeting a delegation from China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) one of the largest aerospace and defence companies in the world. Both countries have been reviewing ongoing projects in the defence and security sector. Over the past 60 years, the China- Uganda economic and trade relations have made significant progress. In 2019, the relationship between Uganda and China was upgraded to the level of Comprehensive Cooperation Partnership with a Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Investment, and Technical Cooperation (JCTEIT) as a bilateral framework of economic cooperation. In January 2024, the government of Uganda wooed Chinese investors to take advantage of the country’s burgeoning economy and abundant investment opportunities.
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