Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has closed a three-day retreat for Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) attaches and urged them to prioritize the country’s interests abroad.
UPDF just Uganda Police Force (UPF) deploys defence attaches at various Ugandan embassies across the globe and their major duty is to handle all military affairs within the diplomatic mission.
According to Gen Muhoozi, it would be in appropriate for a defence attaché to deviate from assigned duties and engage in matters that do not advance Uganda’s interests in the specific countries they have been deployed.
“You have a crucial role of representing the country’s interests abroad. You should always remember that your deployment is crucial, you are representatives of the UPDF and Uganda in the countries of deployment,” Gen Muhoozi said.
Gen Muhoozi closed the Defense attaches and advisers’ summit held at the Defense Intelligence and Security Headquarters in Mbuya on Thursday evening. Gen Muhoozi thanked the Uganda UPDF attaches who are already doing excellent work and emphasized that the news officers should also continue prioritizing Uganda’s interests in their respective host countries.
Col Deo Akiiki, the deputy Defence Public Information Officer (DPIO) explained that the three-day summit aimed at orienting new Defense Advisers and updating existing ones on their roles, featured presentations from experts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Two days earlier on, Lt Gen Sam Okiding, the deputy the CDF who opened the retreat warned defence attaches against involving themselves in matters that cause conflict within the diplomatic missions. Lt Gen Okiding said it would be shameful for any military person deployed to offer military advice to diplomatic chiefs to kick start a conflict.
Other senior military officers who graced the closing session included Chief of Joint Staff Maj Gen Jack Bakasumba, the Joint Staff Policy and Strategy, the Chief of Defense Intelligence and Security, Maj Gen James Birungi, and Maj Gen Bob Ogiki