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ANALYSIS: Inside CDF Gen Muhoozi, Belgium Envoy Talks

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CDF General Muhoozi Kainerugaba (R) with Belgium's ambassador H.E. Hugues Chantry. UPDF PHOTOS

Uganda and Belgium have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation and collaboration.

This follows a meeting between Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations, and H.E. Hugues Chantry, Ambassador of Belgium to Uganda, which took place at the Special Forces Headquarters in Entebbe.

The discussion focused on regional security matters, with Gen Kainerugaba highlighting Uganda’s regional peacekeeping efforts.

Ambassador Chantry praised Uganda’s vital role in promoting regional stability and reiterated Belgium’s support for ongoing regional integration initiatives.

Gen Kainerugaba expressed his commitment to continuing and strengthening the fruitful cooperation between the two nations, emphasising the importance of collaboration in addressing regional challenges.

CDF General Muhoozi Kainerugaba (C) with Belgium’s ambassador H.E. Hugues Chantry (R) and another official during their meeting

ANALYSIS

Their meeting reaffirms the ongoing commitment between Uganda and Belgium to strengthen cooperation, particularly in regional security. This partnership is a continuation of a long-standing relationship between the two nations that dates back to 1995, when the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed. This agreement marked the foundation of cooperation between Uganda and Belgium, focused on development, security, and capacity-building initiatives.

Uganda’s strategic location in the Great Lakes region, coupled with its involvement in regional peacekeeping efforts, makes it a critical player in ensuring stability across East Africa.

Uganda has consistently played a significant role in regional peacekeeping missions, particularly in the conflict-ridden areas of the Great Lakes region, which includes countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan. Uganda’s contribution to peace efforts, such as its involvement in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), now ATMIS and the deployment of Ugandan forces in various peacekeeping operations, has been crucial in stabilizing the region.

It’s active engagement in regional integration and peacekeeping aligns with its broader foreign policy objectives. By collaborating with regional and international partners like Belgium, Uganda seeks to address security threats, such as insurgencies, cross-border conflicts, and terrorism, while fostering economic integration.