Speke Resort Munyonyo yesterday hosted representatives from the Governments of Uganda and Kenya in a bilateral experts meeting on cooperation in defence and security.
Speke Resort Munyonyo and Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort have for long been favourite venues for conferences in Uganda. Every year the magnificent facilities at the hotel welcome thousands of visitors attending major national and international conventions, meetings, concerts, competitions, and more.
The two-day (5th – 6th April 2022) meeting aimed at making respective amendments to the earlier draft agreement (February 2022 in Nairobi) by both parties before its adoption upon approval by Chiefs of Defence Forces and Ministers of Defence from both countries.
In his remarks, the UPDF Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Peter Elwelu on behalf of the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi welcomed the Kenyan delegation and noted that the meeting was good for both countries since we are all one people.
Lt Gen Elwelu stressed the urgent need to strengthen security cooperation between the two countries. He said: “The Europeans divided us but our leaders are doing their best to reunite us through such policy frameworks.”
Speaking at the same meeting, the Vice Chief of Defence Forces of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Head of the Kenyan delegation Lt Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla on behalf of the KDF Chief of Defence Forces Gen Robert Kariuki Kibochi expressed his gratitude to the Government of Uganda for the excellent reception and hospitality during their stay in Uganda.
He reiterated that the agreement would foster greater collaboration in defence and security for both countries. “This kind of collaboration dates as far back as the colonial times when both Uganda and Kenya had the King’s Africa Rifles,” he explained.
The head of the TEWG from Uganda Brig-Gen Dominique Twesigomwe and Commandant of the Uganda National Counter Terrorism Centre, in his remarks, urged experts (representatives) to candidly deliberate on the draft agreement with a view to its adoption so that peace and security can be sustained in both countries.
The experts’ meeting resolved to change the Memorandum of Understanding into an Agreement, establish an appropriate armed force to deal with threats, formulate financial agreements that fund operational activities, and establish training institutions that can skill personnel who deal with emerging threats, among other areas to be included in the draft agreement, before it is presented to the Chiefs of Defence Forces and Ministers of Defence from both parties for adoption upon approval.
About World Class Speke Resort Munyonyo That Hosted This Security Meeting
The resort has been hosting conferences since 2001 and today, boasts of 3 ballrooms, and 19 indoor and 6 outdoor conference venues thus, making it the premier conferencing venue in Uganda.
Speke Resort has multipurpose tents and halls to suit any kind of meeting of the convention.
The crowning moment for the resort was when it hosted the 2007 Commonwealth Government Heads of State Meeting. Each venue at Soeke Resort is unique in its own way and can be set up to suit your particular needs and requirements.
The Resort also offers top-notch audio & visual utilities to help you record your event with perfection. Guest services are also available to provide such amenities as fax, photocopying, Internet and express mail services.
The conference rooms at Speke Resort are fitted with functional air conditioners, the finest furniture, carpets and fittings that are made to deliver utmost comfort and luxury.
Recently during Africa Now Conference, Africa’s 8th richest person – billionaire Strive Masiyiwa awed by the classic beauty of Speke Resort proposed that the luxurious five-star hotel resort should be named “the official African Conference Centre.”
