Uganda and the Central African Republic (CAR) have solidified their military collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement, finalized by Uganda’s Defence Minister Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja and CAR’s National Defence Minister Claude Rameaux Bireau, emphasizes the commitment of both nations to strengthen their military ties. The signing ceremony took place during a bilateral meeting on January 17, 2024, at Skyz Hotel in Naguru, Kampala.
Ssempijja, addressing the gathering, emphasized Uganda’s dedication to promoting peace and stability in the region. He asserted that cooperation and collaboration with neighboring countries, such as CAR, are integral to achieving this goal. The Defence Minister highlighted the significance of the MoU as a milestone in the enduring military partnership between Uganda and CAR.
During the meeting, Ssempijja expressed gratitude for the unconditional support provided by CAR during the repatriation of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) ex-combatants from Zemio and Mboki camps in the previous year. Rameaux, CAR’s Defence Minister, acknowledged Uganda’s vital role in CAR during the peak of LRA activities and commended the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) for its professionalism, expressing a desire to benchmark its practices.
Rameaux outlined the focus of the MoU on military cooperation, aiming to enhance CAR’s armed forces’ operational capacity. He expressed aspirations to learn from the UPDF, particularly in terms of production and technological support. Looking to the future, Rameaux hinted at the possibility of signing an Economic Agreement between the two nations.
The joint session of the Chief of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff emphasized the crucial role of CAR’s cooperation in degrading the LRA, whose remnants have renounced rebellion. Uganda Army Joint Chief of Staff Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda, representing the Chief of Defence Forces, deemed the MoU a significant milestone that would consolidate the relationship between the two countries and their militaries.
Brig. Gen. Arcadius Betibangui, representing the CAR Chief of Defence Staff, emphasized the need to expedite the implementation of the MoU by exploring various areas of cooperation. The signing ceremony marked a continuation of diplomatic efforts, building on the foundation of a previous MoU signed in 2017, which expired in 2022.
The function witnessed the presence of members from the Joint Technical Committee representing the respective militaries of Uganda and CAR.
