Yesterday, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, held a meeting with a delegation representing the leadership of the military of the United Nations Missions in Africa. The delegation paid a courtesy call at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya, Uganda.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss matters pertinent to the inaugural Force Commanders Conference of United Nations Missions in Africa. Lt Gen Okiding expressed a desire for future conferences to include African Union Force Commanders and emphasized the shared challenges experienced by various missions across the African continent.
During the meeting, Lt Gen Okiding praised the efforts of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). He specifically mentioned their support in facilitating the return of ex-Lord’s Resistance Army combatants to Uganda.
Leading the delegation was Lt Gen Mohan Subramanian, the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. He highlighted Uganda’s crucial role in supporting UN missions, emphasizing the logistical and training support provided by the United Nations Regional Service Centre (RSC) in Uganda. Lt Gen Subramanian commended the professionalism of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces field staff officers and civilian staff, acknowledging their significant contributions to the success of the mission in South Sudan.
Among those present at the meeting were Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, the Commander Land Force; Lt Gen Charles Okidi, Commander UPDF – Air Force; Maj Gen James Birungi, Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security; and Brig Gen David Gonyi, Chief of Staff UPDF – Air Force.
The visiting delegation included Lt Gen Humphrey Nyone, the Force Commander of MINUSCA, and Maj Gen Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, the Acting Force Commander and head of mission of the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA), along with other dignitaries.
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