General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces and Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations, has hosted Mr. Emmanuel Cohet, the French Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region.
The meeting, which officials said aimed at bolstering Uganda-France relations, was held this Friday at the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe.
The high-level meeting was attended by key officials, including the French Ambassador to Uganda, Xavier Sticker, First Adviser Mrs. Janyce Obrecht, and France’s Defense Attaché to Uganda, Lieutenant Colonel Yann Chollet.
On the Ugandan side, Major General David Mugisha, Commander of the SFC, and senior officers from the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) were present.
Discussions centered on the deepening of long standing military and bilateral ties between Uganda and France, according to a media brief from the CDF’s office.
Both parties acknowledged the history of collaboration in areas such as military training, diplomacy, and economic ventures.
France has been instrumental in training UPDF forces especially in the oil-rich Albertine region neighbouring the volatile eastern Congo, while French companies maintain a significant economic footprint in Uganda.
“This visit underscores the importance of our strategic partnership with France,” said Gen. Muhoozi.
“We look forward to continued cooperation that benefits our shared interests in the Great Lakes region.”
Mr. Cohet echoed similar sentiments, expressing France’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s role in regional stability and security.
The development comes amid increased conflicts in the Great Lakes region, especially DRC where rebels are fighting government forces.
French ties
French-Ugandan relations have grown steadily over the years, marked by economic investments and joint military efforts to address security challenges.
Amb Xavier recently highlighted the impact of investments by French companies in Uganda, noting that their turnover currently exceeds 2 percent of Uganda’s GDP in sectors like energy, infrastructure, logistics, transport, engineering and agriculture.
In 2023, French companies invested US$1.6 billion which is 53 per cent of the total foreign direct investment in Uganda. Over the next three years, they plan to invest US$4.1 billion (Shs 16 trillion), according to the results of a survey by France’s foreign trade advisers in Uganda.
Xavier also noted support worth more than €800 million from French Development Agency (AFD) in sectors like water and energy, including planned delivery in December 2024, of a major water treatment plant and network that will supply water to a million Ugandans from the border with Tanzania to Mbarara.
The French Ambassador also lauded the Uganda-France partnership for peace and stability in East Africa.
“This is illustrated in particular by the cooperation between the UPDF and the French forces stationed in Djibouti, in support of peace operations in Somalia and the Democratic of Congo. France also supports Uganda’s generous refugee policy and also provides food aid to Karamoja and West Nile,” said Xavier.