Former Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura (Rtd.), representing the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has emphasized the inseparable connection between diplomacy and the military, stressing that Uganda’s peace and stability can only be secured through close collaboration between envoys and defence forces.

Speaking at the ongoing Annual Ambassadors’ Conference, Gen. Kayihura described diplomacy as a new terrain for him but expressed gratitude to Amb. Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for his support.

He adopted a conversational approach, inviting ambassadors to freely engage, exchange perspectives, and even correct him where necessary.

Conveying apologies from the CDF, Gen. Kayihura recalled Uganda’s past tensions with Rwanda, pointing out how diplomatic efforts succeeded where armed confrontation could not.

“War and diplomacy are intertwined – together they safeguard Uganda,” he said, noting that the country’s defence and foreign policy must operate in tandem to preserve stability and advance national interests.

His remarks come at a time when Uganda is strengthening the alignment of its economic and commercial diplomacy with national security, underscoring the growing recognition that the country’s prosperity relies on both secure borders and robust international engagement.