New French defence attaché pays courtesy call on CDF Kainerugaba

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The newly appointed French defence attaché to Uganda, Lieutenant Colonel Sébastien Berger, on Monday, September 1, 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The meeting took place at the Special Forces Command Headquarters in Entebbe.

According to a statement from the army, Lieutenant Colonel Berger was accompanied by his deputy, Lieutenant Colonel E. Desroche.

During the discussions, Gen. Kainerugaba commended the existing military cooperation between Uganda and France and pledged to continue working together to advance mutual security interests.

The French officers, in turn, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic defence partnership with the UPDF.

Military cooperation between Uganda and France has been expanding in recent years. In 2015, Kampala requested French expertise to train an alpine brigade, and since then a French cooperation officer has been seconded to the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF).

Further cooperation initiatives are under consideration, particularly in securing Lake Albert. In November 2024, Uganda and France announced plans to expand collaboration in areas including mountain warfare and French-language instruction for UPDF units, notably at the Mountain Warfare Training School in Karugutu.

In April 2025, the UPDF confirmed that its Mountain Division had received “high-tech equipment” from the French military to support operations aimed at restoring security in mountainous regions. This remains a priority as Uganda continues joint operations with neighbouring states against armed groups operating in the Great Lakes region.