NEWS- The UPDF Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga has expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda for positively guiding their Armies and encouraging them to meet and address security challenges which will go a long way in fostering harmony between thevtwo countries and ensuring our peoples’ socio economic transformation and prosperity.
Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga made the remarks today at the closure of three days military strategic engagement that has been on at Les Vegas Gardens Hotel in Mbarara City where he also thanked the Chiefs of Defence Force for Rwanda Defence Force and Uganda People’s Defence for the effort put in place to enhance the Security of the two Countries.
Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga highlighting the need for regular meeting as means of strengthening relationship of the Armies and said that security meetings will help to mitigate a number of issues facilitate prosperity of our people.
“Therefore, these other differences that could have been there could be streamlined by regular meetings like this one of today and that one which took place in Rwanda recently” He said.
While emphasizing the significance of two Armies meeting regularly, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga defined the meeting as a big achievement towards increasing relationship and an event for strengthening historical ties of Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) and Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF).
While speaking at the same function, the Rwanda Defence Forces Army Chief of Staff Maj Gen Vicent Nyakarundi expressed gratitude to the two Presidents of Uganda and Rwanda for enabling the Commanders to regularly meet and have look into security issues that affect our people and emphasized the need for the two Armies to strengthen collaboration and coordination as this strong partnership will prevent possible infiltration by Negative forces.
The UPDF 2nd Infantry Division Commander, Brig Gen Paul Muhanguzi hosted his fellow proximity Commanders that include Rwanda Defence Forces 2nd Infantry Division Commander, Brig Gen Nelson Rwigema and Rwanda Defence Forces 5th Infantry Division Commander Col Pascal Munyankindi.
“To my counterparts, proximity Commanders, since our 1st meeting in Nyagatare, results have been yielded. This was witnessed when we carried out an examination on our resolutions, we found out that there is positive adherence by proximity units on both sides” Brig Gen Muhanguzi said.

According to UPDF 2nd Infantry Division Public Information Officer, Major Kiconco Tabaro, the two Armies discussed a number of salient issues that have a bearing on border security and resolved to take necessary steps that will see Operational Commanders, Tactical Units, local populace and relevant stakeholders move in a direction that promotes security for border communities, nations and the region.
The closing ceremony was also atended by the Chief of Defence, Security and Intelligence of UPDF, Maj Gen James Birungi, the Head of Defence Intelligence of Rwanda Defence Forces Col Fracios Regis, Defence Advisor of Uganda to Rwanda, Brig Gen Dr Emmanuel Shillingi, Defence Advisor of Rwanda to Uganda, Col Emmanuel Luzindana, Proximity Brigade commanders, Battalion and Intelligence officers.
