Uganda – US Defence Ties strengthened As Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba Hosts US Army War College Delegation

The Chief Joint Staff (CJS) of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba on behalf of the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has today hosted a delegation from the US Army War College at the Chieftaincy of Defence Intelligence and Security in Mbuya, Kampala.

Speaking during the meeting, Lt Gen Bakasumba offered the visitors an in-depth understanding of Uganda’s defence evolution, capacity building, and regional security contributions.

He traced the UPDF’s transformation from the early post-independence years explaining that when Uganda gained independence on 9th October 1962, the British left behind a small but disciplined foundation through the “King’s African Rifles”, which later transitioned into the Uganda Army, then National Resistance Army, and now the Pro-people UPDF.

“Our history is long, complex, and transformative,” he said , further noting that “at every stage, we have grown stronger, more organised, and more professional.”

On training and capacity development, the CJS emphasized UPDF’s increasing need to attain self-reliance.

“Today, we are able to train our personnel from the basic level all the way to advanced strategic courses. However, we continue to welcome partnerships that enhance our capabilities and interoperability.” Lt Gen Bakasumba explained.

The CJS highlighted Uganda’s prominent role in regional missions, particularly its historic deployment to Somalia in 2007 under AMISOM to ATMIS and (now AUSSOM), noting that Uganda became the first African country to deploy to the mission and has sustained its presence for 19 years.

“Somalia is almost 800 nautical miles away, but we responded because Africa needed us,” he said.

He commended the United States for its support in logistics, equipment, and training to UPDF, stressing that the mission remains “one of the UPDF’s proudest contributions to continental peace and security.” while reaffirming Uganda’s strong defence cooperation with the United States.
He described the Uganda -US Defence partnerships as “one of our most important and reliable military-to-military partnerships.”

Lt Gen Bakasumba further highlighted UPDF’s ongoing operations in South Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Uganda continues to pursue the ADF at the invitation of the Congolese government.

“When your neighbour’s house catches fire, you help to put it out,” he said, underscoring Uganda’s Pan-African approach to shared security.

The head of the U.S. Army War College delegation Col Miller Ronald, expressed his deep gratitude for the engagement, noting that learning directly from UPDF leadership was invaluable. He added that the team was impressed by Uganda’s role in promoting regional peace and stability.

“The UPDF is widely recognized for its active contribution to peace and security across the region,” he remarked.

He noted that the U.S. Army War College has, in recent years, intensified efforts to expand its Africa-focused academic programs for the benefit of its allies.

“For a long time, Africa-related content within the institution remained limited, leaving many upcoming American strategic leaders inadequately informed about the continent’s evolving geopolitical importance. With Africa’s influence growing globally, this knowledge gap needed urgent attention,” Col Miller Ronald stressed.

Col Miller underscored the importance of understanding UPDF’s contribution to stabilizing the region, ranging from operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to counterterrorism efforts against ADF, engagements in Somalia, and monitoring of regional conflicts such as the situation in Sudan.

“Uganda is always a key destination for us,” he added, emphasizing that the visit helps future American strategic leaders understand Africa’s realities better.

The meeting was also attended by Brig Gen Godwin Karugaba Joint Staff Logistics, Col Simon Mwebaza Joint Staff Communications and Technology, Lt Col Christian Noumba US Defence Attachee and other senior officers of the UPDF.