The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have concluded a two-day Defence Intelligence Bilateral Engagement at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya.

The engagement focused on Africa’s security situation, intelligence cooperation and emerging security threats.

The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Samuel Okiding, thanked the South African delegation for visiting Uganda and called for greater unity and cooperation among African countries in addressing security challenges.

“I am happy that we are here now. Our strength as a continent is to come together, the way we are doing now,” Lt Gen Okiding said.

Earlier, while representing the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Brigadier General Michael Kibuye, the Director of Civil-Military Cooperation commended the SANDF delegation for its professionalism and highlighted the strong historical ties between Uganda and South Africa.

He said the two countries continue to cooperate in training, technology and intelligence, stressing the importance of information sharing, strategic dialogue and early warning in addressing contemporary security threats.

“The true measure of this meeting will not be what we discussed here, but what we do with the understanding gained from these discussions,” he said.

Captain N.T. Mokoe of the SANDF thanked the UPDF for the professional and fruitful engagement.

The meeting brought together senior UPDF intelligence officers and the South African delegation.