ANALYSIS: Inside Gen Bakasumba, Russia Military Attache Talks To Deepen Cooperation

The UPDF Chief of Joint Staff, Maj Gen Jack Bakasumba, on Tuesday met with the Military and Air Attaché to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Uganda, Col Nikolay Pavlov, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) Headquarters in Mbuya.

Maj Gen Bakasumba praised the cordial relationship between Uganda and Russia, particularly in security and defence, and said that Uganda continues to benefit from Russia’s expertise in combating terrorism through the training of Uganda’s military personnel.

He stated that Uganda is open to exploring avenues for further cooperation by establishing a legal framework for collaboration between the two countries.

Col Nikolay Pavlov expressed Russia’s willingness to share their military expertise with Uganda through various areas of defence cooperation.

Also present in the meeting was the Assistant Attaché, Lt Col Eugene Shmelev.

ANALYSIS

In the past month, US and UK attaches have also visited the military headquarters. This latest visit by the Russians indicates Uganda’s growing significance in global geopolitics, particularly within the broader East Africa and Great Lakes region that Kampala is a key player in. Their meeting represents a continuation of Uganda’s efforts to diversify its defense partnerships and leverage international cooperation to strengthen its security apparatus.

Uganda’s engagement with multiple international partners points to its proactive approach to securing her national interests and enhancing its defense capabilities.

In the context of global geopolitics, Uganda’s diplomatic outreach to major powers like Russia, UK and the US reflects its desire to balance competing interests and leverage diverse sources of support. These interactions not only serve Uganda’s immediate security needs but also contribute to shaping broader geopolitical alignments in East Africa and beyond.