Minister Oboth, US Delegation Discuss Deepening Bilateral Relations

The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has held talks with a delegation of Professional Staff Members from the United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, led by the US Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. William Popp.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) headquarters in Mbuya, focused on enhancing bilateral relations between Uganda and the United States, particularly in the area of defence.

Minister Oboth praised the strong partnership between the two countries, highlighting the US support in regional counter-terrorism operations. He noted that combating terrorism is a global effort that cannot be undertaken by a single nation.

He highlighted Uganda’s ongoing operations in Somalia and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, describing them as guided by a spirit of Pan-Africanism. “We have one country that we must preserve, but we cannot preserve it when our neighbours are not at peace,” Hon. Oboth said.

Ambassador Popp commended the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) for maintaining security in the Great Lakes region, contributing to cross-border peace, and supporting counter-terrorism efforts in Somalia.

The Professional Staff Members is apolitical, non-partisan high-level committee of the House of Representatives whose advice is highly regarded by parties in the USA.

The meeting was attended by: the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rosette Byengoma; Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Sam Okiding; Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba; Commander Land Force, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga; Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Maj Gen Richard Otto; Director Legal Affairs, Maj Gen Aloysius Kagoro; the US Defence Attaché to Uganda, Lt Col Christian Noumba and senior officers.