Beijing, China – Uganda and China have taken a significant step toward strengthening military ties, signing a new bilateral defence agreement during high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday.
The agreement was formalized following a meeting between Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission.
Kainerugaba, who also serves as Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, led a Ugandan military delegation that included Maj Gen Dan Kakono, Commander of the Artillery Division, and Maj Gen Felix Busizoori, Commander of the 4th Infantry Division.
The two sides held closed-door discussions at the Chinese military headquarters, focusing on strategic areas of cooperation. The agenda included advanced military training, peacekeeping operations, defence diplomacy, and technology transfer.
Officials say the newly signed pact is aimed at deepening defence collaboration through expanded military education programs, joint training initiatives, and increased technical cooperation between the two-armed forces.
The meeting was marked by formal military honours and was attended by senior officers from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), underscoring the importance Beijing places on its defence partnership with Kampala.
Kainerugaba’s visit also coincides with the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, an international defence and security conference that convenes military leaders, policymakers, and scholars to discuss pressing global security challenges.
The new defence pact reflects the growing strategic relationship between Uganda and China, positioning both countries to enhance mutual security interests amid an increasingly complex global defence landscape.
