Kampala | The delegation from Zambian Defence Services is in Uganda on a study tour aimed at enhancing their students’ understanding in the areas of geopolitics, and social and economic dynamics of the region.
The tour will also help them understand how geopolitics affect countries – acting individually or acting together towards social economic and security issues facing the region.
UPDF Chief of Staff – Land Forces, Major General Jack Bakasumba emphasised the importance of robust regional security mechanisms in coordinating and strengthening partnerships between neighbouring militaries.
Maj Gen Bakasumba was interfacing with a delegation of Directing Staff and Students from the Zambia Defence Services Command and Staff College at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters, Mbuya where he represented the Chief of Defence Forces.
“Integration remains a core objective of Uganda, especially the East African Community… the current trade challenges between Uganda and Zambia can be addressed through bilateral agreements,” he added.
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Bakasumba thanked the Zambian Delegation for espousing a cordial relationship with Uganda and said that working together strengthens the existing good relationship between the two countries.
On the bilateral Defence Cooperation agreement, he recognized as an “important legal instrument binding the two nations to cooperate and address common strategic security interests”.
The Deputy Chief Political Commissar, Col Nelson Aheebwa who represented the Chief of Political Commissar presented a security brief on the “Geo-Political Aspects and the Imperative of Regional Integration.”
He observed that having seen Uganda from a history of turbulence, from colonial manipulation and distortions, working together with regional states like Zambia, shows that we can create strategic security to secure our countries and communities because it is only by integrating, that we will be able to have a strong voice, larger market, strong security frameworks, firmer security foundation and thus security.
The head of the Zambian delegation Col Pezu Lamba thanked the UPDF leadership for accepting to host them and commended the UPDF for the vital role it plays in combating terror threats in the region.
Col Pezu noted that such engagements strengthen the bilateral relationship between Uganda and the Zambia Defence Forces.