ENTEBBE, Uganda – The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has officially welcomed a new cohort of the Indian Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT), underscoring the depth of the strategic defense partnership between the two nations.
The meeting, held this afternoon at the Special Forces Command (SFC) Headquarters in Entebbe, was attended by senior UPDF leadership, signaling the high importance Kampala places on the bilateral relationship. The delegation was led by the incoming Head of IMATT, Brigadier N.V. Nanjundeshwara, and included Colonel Surendra Tanwar and Group Captain Pranav Raj.
They were received by a high-ranking UPDF contingent that included the Chief of Joint Staff, Lieutenant General Jack Bakasumba, and Brigadier General Wycliffe Keita from the Joint Staff Training and Doctrine Command.
In his address, General Kainerugaba hailed the “excellent military cooperation” between Uganda and India, highlighting the mutual benefits derived from the relationship. “Both countries have significantly benefited from shared knowledge, training, and mutual learning,” the CDF noted.
He warmly thanked the incoming team and pledged the UPDF’s full cooperation, assuring them of a productive and supportive partnership that mirrored the successful tenures of previous IMATT cycles. General Kainerugaba emphasized that the regular two-year rotation of the advisory team is a clear “testament to the enduring and strategic defense partnership between Uganda and India.”
The Indian Military Advisory Team has been a cornerstone of defense cooperation, playing a pivotal role in capacity building, training, and the exchange of military doctrine within the UPDF. This latest meeting reinforces both nations’ commitment to continuing this collaborative effort for shared security and professional development.
