EXCLUSIVE: Inside Gen. Saleh’s High-Level Meeting with US Envoy and Defence Attaché

On August 26, 2025, General Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), hosted a high-level delegation from the United States Embassy in Uganda, led by Ambassador William Popp, accompanied by Lt. Col. Christian Noumba, the U.S. Defense Attaché and Senior Defense Official, as well as Ms. Lauren Kretz, First Secretary for Political Affairs.

Details of the meeting held in Gulu City, Northern Uganda, have not been revealed, but the Operation Wealth Creation where Gen Saleh is Chief Coordinator shared on social media that focused on the strategic depth of U.S.–Uganda relations, covering wide-ranging discussions on security, peace, development, and foreign direct investment (FDI).

“The meeting centered on discussions around security, peace, development, and foreign direct investment (FDI). Both parties agreed to deepen collaboration in strategic areas such as Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs), Chamber of Commerce, commercial agriculture, and establishment of data centers,” OWC posted.

Uganda is a key player in peace and security operations in the great lakes regions and the wider central Africa, and analysts believe her role was discussed at length.

DA Lt. Col. Christian Noumba (R) accompanied Ambassador Popp to the meeting the Gen Saleh

Security and Peace: Reinforcing Uganda’s Regional Role

Uganda remains a linchpin in East Africa’s security architecture, contributing significantly to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) now AUSSOM, peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and regional mediation initiatives.

The presence of the U.S. Defense Attaché indicated Washington’s interest in strengthening military-to-military cooperation and ensuring continued collaboration in counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and peacekeeping.

With ongoing instability in the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes, and Sudan, the U.S. delegation emphasized the need to sustain peacebuilding initiatives and maintain Uganda’s role as a regional security provider.

Gen. Saleh, who has long been a trusted adviser to President Yoweri Museveni, his brother, it is believed, reassured the delegation of Uganda’s commitment to stabilizing the region while also strengthening internal peace and cohesion through programs such as OWC.

Foreign Direct Investment: Security as the Bedrock of Growth

Beyond security, the meeting placed strong emphasis on foreign direct investment (FDI). Both parties recognized that lasting peace cannot be achieved without economic growth and development. Discussions touched on opportunities for U.S. investors in commercial agriculture, data centers, and public–private partnerships (PPPs)—sectors critical for Uganda’s economic transformation.

Operation Wealth Creation, under Gen. Saleh’s leadership, has been instrumental in boosting agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. The U.S. delegation expressed interest in supporting Uganda’s development agenda through private sector-driven investments, particularly in agriculture value chains and digital infrastructure, to create jobs and foster inclusive growth.

Defense Attaché: Linking Security and Diplomacy

The presence of Lt. Col. Christian Noumba, the U.S. Defense Attaché and Senior Defense Official, was of particular significance.

A Defense Attaché serves as the military representative of their country’s armed forces within a foreign embassy, acting as a key liaison for defense and security matters.

In this meeting, Noumba’s participation highlighted how defense cooperation is intertwined with development and investment, since stability and security provide the foundation upon which trade and FDI can thrive.

By engaging directly with Gen. Saleh—who embodies both Uganda’s defense heritage and its economic transformation agenda—the U.S. Embassy demonstrated a holistic approach: balancing security collaboration with economic partnership.

At the conclusion of the discussions, both sides agreed to deepen collaboration in strategic areas such as public–private partnerships, strengthening the Chamber of Commerce, expanding commercial agriculture, and establishing modern data centers.