The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, has held talks with a European Union Delegation in Uganda on the future of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The delegation, led by the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Her Excellency Eole Sury, paid a courtesy call on the Minister at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.
Hon Kiryowa said Uganda and the EU have maintained a longstanding partnership spanning five decades, describing the EU as one of Uganda’s key partners in supporting peace and security efforts in Somalia.
“We thank you very much for the support we have had with AUSSOM. Albeit all the challenges we’ve had over time, I think the EU has been one of our biggest and most steadfast partners,” he said.
He underscored the role of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces as a key component of the regional security architecture, stressing that “no conversation about the future, whether in the short, medium or long term, can take place without considering the role of the UPDF in regional security.”
He said Uganda would continue engaging the EU, the United States and other partners on the future of international support to Somalia.
Her Excellency Eole Sury was accompanied by Ms Leila Lounes, Security Adviser to the EU Special Adviser for the Programme for Africa, and Ms Roìsìn Drury, Political Adviser to the EU Special Representative and Mr. Raymond Mujuni
The meeting was attended by the Undersecrtary Finance and Administration, Mrs. Edith Buturo; Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Sam Okiding and the Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba.
