Uganda, Zimbabwe Strengthen Defence Intelligence Cooperation

Uganda and Zimbabwe have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening longstanding military ties through enhanced defence intelligence cooperation, with a focus on information sharing, early warning and joint responses to emerging security threats.

The commitment was made during a Bilateral Defence Intelligence Exchange engagement to discuss emerging security challenges and deepen cooperation between the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

UPDF’s Chief of Joint Staff, Lieutenant General Jack Bakasumba, described the engagement as an opportunity for the two countries to draw on their shared history and confront security challenges together.

“Security challenges today don’t respect borders. They do not announce themselves in advance,” Lt Gen Bakasumba said, noting that modern security threats were becoming increasingly complex and could not be effectively addressed by a single country or institution.

“We are stronger when we stand together. We are better prepared when we plan together, and we are more secure when we cooperate. Bilateral engagements such as this one give us the opportunity for candid conversations,” he said.

Lt Gen Bakasumba highlighted the strong bonds between Uganda and Zimbabwe, rooted in their shared history, anti-colonial struggles and commitment to African unity.

The UPDF Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Major General Richard Otto, said the visit by the Zimbabwean delegation provided an important opportunity to strengthen the longstanding relationship between the two countries’ defence and intelligence institutions.

Maj Gen Otto stressed the need for stronger information sharing to detect terrorist financing, disrupt illicit networks and improve early-warning mechanisms.

“Intelligence sharing should help us identify threats early, understand cross-border networks, and support lawful actions by the competent authorities,” Maj Gen Otto said.

Representing the Zimbabwean delegation, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Defence Intelligence, Brigadier General Maxwell Masuku, described the engagement as another chapter in the longstanding relationship between the two defence intelligence organisations.

“It is vital for us to share intelligence and information on mutual interests, and such meetings are a testament to the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries,” Brig Gen Masuku said.

Brig Gen Masuku said the meeting comes at a time of significant changes in the global security environment, with international conflicts, climate change, cyber threats, terrorism, illegal migration and other transnational challenges creating new security pressures for African countries.

Present were senior and junior officers of the UPDF.