KAMPALA, UGANDA — The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has opened the annual Defence Strategic Retreat, bringing together senior military commanders and civilian officials to review performance and define Uganda’s defence priorities for the 2026/27 financial year.

The three-day conference, which opened on Saturday at the Defence Intelligence and Security Headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala, is aimed at strengthening strategic planning, institutional coordination and resource allocation within the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.

Gen Kainerugaba chaired the first two days of the retreat, guiding senior Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces commanders and ministry officials through discussions on operational performance, institutional reforms and emerging national security priorities.

The retreat serves as an important platform through which the ministry assesses its performance, identifies strategic gaps and aligns its programmes with Uganda’s evolving security needs.

Officials are also expected to examine ways of strengthening cooperation between the UPDF’s military leadership and civilian technocrats within the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.

Among the senior officials participating in the retreat is the ministry’s Under-Secretary for Finance and Administration, Ms Edith Butuuro. Her participation underscores the importance of linking defence strategy with financial planning and administrative implementation.

The discussions are expected to influence defence expenditure and guide the allocation of resources during the 2026/27 financial year.

The annual exercise is also considered a key mechanism for reforming the ministry’s strategic processes, improving accountability and ensuring that defence programmes remain responsive to emerging national and regional security challenges.

The conference concludes on Tuesday, when the CDF will present the consolidated strategic priorities to the Minister of Defence, who will formally close the retreat.