A delegation from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) visited Kenya this week to conduct a benchmarking exercise focused on enhancing the welfare and well-being of military personnel and their families. The visit comes amid recent remarks by President Yoweri Museveni on potential conflict over access to the Indian Ocean.
Led by Deputy Commander Land Force Major General Francis Takirwa, the UPDF delegation toured the Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi. The team exchanged knowledge with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on welfare programmes, policies, and practical solutions to improve support systems for soldiers and their dependents. The delegation also paid a courtesy call on Kenya Air Force Commander Major General Bernard Waliaula, who encouraged sharing best practices to enhance welfare structures within Ugandan military formations.
During the visit, the UPDF team toured the Defence Forces Welfare Services (DEFWES) Headquarters warehouse and the DEFWES Mall in Embakasi, gaining insights into operational structures and service delivery. Major General Takirwa praised the KDF for its structured and innovative approach to military welfare and emphasized the importance of regional collaboration to improve the quality of life for armed forces personnel across East Africa.
President Museveni, earlier this week, warned of a potential conflict with Kenya if landlocked East African nations continue to face restrictions accessing the Indian Ocean. In an interview, he highlighted Uganda’s economic and defense needs, questioning how the country could efficiently export goods without maritime access. “That ocean belongs to me. Because it is my ocean. I am entitled to that ocean. In the future, we are going to have wars,” Museveni said, drawing mixed reactions in Kenya.
However, Kenya’s government responded on November 12, with Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei clarifying that the President’s comments were metaphorical and should not be taken literally.
The UPDF’s visit demonstrates ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral military cooperation and institutional learning, underscoring the shared goal of enhancing welfare for armed forces personnel in the region.
