Defence Leadership Aligns Priorities As UPDF Strategic Retreat Concludes

The annual defence strategic retreat has concluded, with the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, presiding over the closing session on Monday. He was joined on the final day by the Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, and the Minister of State for Veteran Affairs, Hon. Dr. Huda Abason Oleru.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, officially opened the three-day conference on Saturday at the Defence Intelligence and Security Headquarters in Mbuya.

Gen. Kainerugaba chaired the first two days of the assembly, leading military and civilian leaders through performance reviews and coordination discussions.

During the retreat, Gen Kainerugaba said that although the UPDF had made significant progress during the 2025/26 financial year, there is need to improve efficiency and accelerate implementation of key priorities.

“The overall picture is that we are steadily moving in the right direction, even though we must work a little bit faster,” Gen Kainerugaba said.

The CDF urged officials to adopt SMART priorities (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound) to promote effective planning, efficient utilisation of resources, and accountability.

“Priorities that are SMART provide value for money, improve our efficiency, and rigorously audit whatever we set out to do,” he noted.

At the close of the retreat, the CDF presented consolidated strategic priorities to Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, signaling the start of implementation.

On his part, Hon. Kiryowa reiterated the government’s commitment to building a modern, affordable, and sustainable UPDF, while strengthening strategic partnerships to support national security and development.

He also stressed the importance of enhancing the visibility of the UPDF’s achievements, noting that although the force continues to register significant successes, many of them remain largely unknown to the public.

“So much is being done, but so little is known,” he said, adding that “it is about time someone started blowing their own trumpet.”

The minister pledged his support for the UPDF’s budget priorities and called for a sustained publicity campaign to highlight the force’s contribution to national security and socio-economic transformation.

Hon. Kiryowa also commended the Chief of Defence Forces for the progress made in transforming the UPDF within a short period and encouraged other government ministries, departments, and agencies to emulate MoDVA’s approach to delivering results through efficient use of public resources.

This annual exercise helps streamline the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs’ (MoDVA) planning, ensuring alignment with national security priorities.

Other senior UPDF leaders at the retreat included the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, and the Chief of Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Jack Bakasumba, among others. They were joined by top MoDVA technocrats, including the Permanent Secretary, Rosette Byengoma, and the Under-Secretary for Finance and Administration, Edith Butuuro, whose work directly shapes the upcoming fiscal year’s defence expenditure.