Uganda and France have agreed to deepen defence ties, with discussions between Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka and French Ambassador Virginie Leroy focusing on joint military training, motorized assets, mountain rescue systems, and regional peacekeeping operations.
Uganda and France have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral defence and security cooperation, centering discussions on tactical military training, capacity building, and collaborative mechanisms to address emerging regional security challenges.
The bilateral engagement took place during a meeting between the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, and the French Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Virginie Leroy, at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.
Minister Kiwanuka highlighted Uganda’s open and cooperative foreign policy, describing the partnership with France as solid and productive, and offering a robust foundation for broader military and civilian cooperation. Emphasizing Uganda’s Pan-African outlook, Kiwanuka underscored that Kampala values constructive alliances anchored in mutual respect, dialogue, and shared prosperity. He maintained that open communication across defence, security, and economic sectors remains crucial to unlocking mutually beneficial opportunities for both nations.
Ambassador Leroy noted France’s readiness to expand operational capabilities through structured training frameworks. She pointed to specialized military training engagements available in Djibouti, Gabon, Somalia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Paris as core pillars of existing defense agreements. Leroy praised Uganda’s ongoing peacekeeping and stabilization efforts across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan, and Somalia.
In support of these regional commitments, Ambassador Leroy affirmed France’s willingness to assist the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) in strategic capability enhancements. These interventions include providing specialized equipment, motorized military assets, infrastructure upgrades, and strengthening regional military training institutions through facility development and instructor exchanges.
The discussions also explored expanding cooperation into non-traditional defense operations, specifically the establishment of a specialized mountain rescue platform to enhance emergency response and tourist safety, as well as joint anti-poaching initiatives within national parks to safeguard wildlife and tighten border-adjacent conservation security.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Defence Hon. Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, Minister of State for Veteran Affairs Hon. Huda Abason Oleru, Ministry Under-Secretary for Finance and Administration Mrs. Edith Buturo, French Defence Attaché to Uganda Lt. Col. Sebastien Berger, and Defence Legal Advisor Col. Silas Kamanda.