As Kenyans continue to debate President Yoweri Museveni’s recent comments on territorial and maritime issues between Uganda and Kenya, a delegation from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) visited their Kenyan counterparts on Wednesday.
According to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the UPDF delegation conducted a benchmarking exercise at the Defence Forces Welfare Services (DEFWES), focusing on ways to enhance the welfare and well-being of military personnel and their families.
Museveni this week warned of a potential conflict with Kenya if landlocked East African nations continue to be denied access to the Indian Ocean.
The Ugandan President, in his speech during an interview, highlighted Uganda’s economic and defense needs, questioning how the country could efficiently export goods without access to the sea.
“That is why we have had endless discussions with Kenya. This one stops, another comes. The railway and the pipeline – we discuss. But 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.
Meanwhile, the UPDF, led by Deputy Commander Land Force Major General Francis Takirwa, visited the Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi, with the visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting institutional learning between the two armies.
During the visit, both sides exchanged knowledge on welfare programmes, policies, and practical solutions to improve the support structure for soldiers and their dependents.
Additionally, the delegation later paid a courtesy call on the Commander of the Kenya Air Force, Major General Bernard Waliaula. During the visit, he encouraged the team to identify best practices that would enhance the welfare systems within their own formations in Uganda.
The visitors also toured the DEFWES Headquarters warehouse and DEFWES Mall in Embakasi, gaining insights into the institution’s operational structure and service delivery.
Speaking during the visit, Major General Takirwa commended the KDF for its structured and innovative approach to welfare management and emphasised the importance of regional collaboration in improving the quality of life for military personnel across East Africa.
Despite Museveni's comments attracting mixed reactions from Kenyans, the government of Kenya on Wednesday broke its silence on the matter and affirmed that the controversial comments were taken out of context.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, November 12, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei noted that Museveni's comments were metaphorical and should not be taken literally.
