Defence attachés and advisers accredited to Uganda have undertaken a familiarisation tour of key security, tourism, cultural and strategic sites as part of efforts to strengthen defence diplomacy and deepen their understanding of Uganda’s security environment and national development priorities.
The tour covered Murchison Falls National Park, Kabalega International Airport in Hoima and the Tilenga oil and gas project, among other strategic sites.
The engagement provided the visiting defence representatives with an opportunity to interact with Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) commanders and gain first-hand insights into the security situation in different parts of the country.
The 4 Infantry Division Commander, Major General Wilberforce Sserunkuma, and the Artillery Division Commander, Major General Daniel Kakono, briefed the delegation on the security situation within their respective areas of responsibility.
Maj Gen Kakono assured the defence attachés of the prevailing security and stability in the area, while encouraging them to return to Uganda with their families to experience the country’s tourism and cultural attractions.
At Murchison Falls National Park, the delegation was briefed on the history and significance of the park, including its contribution to Uganda’s tourism sector and the surrounding communities.
The delegation later visited Kabalega International Airport in Hoima, which provided the defence representatives with an insight into Uganda’s expanding aviation infrastructure and its strategic importance to the development of the oil and gas sector in the Albertine region.
The delegation also toured the Tilenga oil and gas project, visiting selected operational facilities, including the Operation Support Base, Drilling Support Base and Construction Support Base.
During the visit, the defence attachés were briefed on the history and development of Uganda’s oil and gas industry, as well as the wider economic and social benefits expected from the sector.
Mr Damulira Silagi, an occupational safety officer at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, said approximately 94 per cent of the workforce engaged in the project comprises Ugandans, reflecting the emphasis placed on local employment and participation in the development of the sector.
The familiarisation tour also incorporated Uganda’s rich history and cultural heritage, with the delegation receiving presentations on the traditions and heritage of the Acholi and Banyoro communities, including the history associated with the Bachwezi.
The tour is part of Uganda’s broader defence diplomacy engagements aimed at strengthening relations with accredited foreign defence representatives and providing them with a deeper understanding of the country’s security environment, strategic interests and development priorities.
