Uganda moves to strengthen Canada military ties

WAKISO - Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has met with the Canadian defence advisor to Uganda, Col. Todd Braithwaite, at the Special Forces Command (SFC) Headquarters in Entebbe. 

The discussions on October 1, 2025, afternoon, focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation between Uganda and Canada.

The army, in a statement, said Braithwaite thanked Kainerugaba for the meeting, describing it as a rare and valuable opportunity.

The Canadian military officer acknowledged Uganda's significant contributions to regional peacekeeping, including its role as a major player in regional peacekeeping missions. He commended Uganda for its support of UN peace initiatives and for facilitating the movement of UN logistics and personnel.

The Defence Advisor confirmed plans to include Uganda in Canada’s Military Training and Co-operation Programme (MTCP), which aims to build military capacity and support peace support operations training across East Africa.

The army, in a statement, said Braithwaite thanked Kainerugaba for the meeting, describing it as a rare and valuable opportunity.

Kainerugaba thanked Braithwaite for the visit and expressed his optimism for a strong and collaborative military partnership in the future.

The meeting was also attended by Sarah Rubanga Kaggwa, the vice consul at the Consulate of Canada in Uganda. The CDF was accompanied by Chief of Joint Staff Lt. Gen. Jack Bakasumba and Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security Maj. Gen. Richard Otto.

Canada established diplomatic relations with Uganda in 1962, shortly after Uganda's independence.

In Uganda, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada in Kenya, in Nairobi, and by an Honorary Consul in Kampala. In Canada, Uganda maintains a High Commission in Ottawa.

According to information on Uganda on the Government of Canada website, its priorities in Uganda centre on promoting human rights, democratic governance, supporting refugees in the region, and promoting regional security and stability.

Canada and Uganda share an interest in addressing the humanitarian needs of those affected by the current security crises in the region.

Uganda contributes military and police personnel to several UN missions, including in South Sudan and Somalia, and is a significant troop contributor to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.

From the UN Regional Service Centre (RSCE) in Entebbe, Uganda, Canada provided tactical airlift support to UN missions in the region, assisting with the transport of troops, equipment and supplies.

The RSCE also houses the UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (UNCAP), a UN training centre which receives funding from Canada through the Peace and Stabilisation Operations Programme.

Trade relations

In 2022, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Uganda reached $69.1 million. This consisted of $36.5 million in exports to Uganda and $32.6 million in imports from Uganda.

Top Canadian exports to Uganda mainly included aircraft and spacecraft parts, textile articles, cereals. Top Canadian imports from Uganda were primarily coffee and tea, vanilla beans, live plant cuttings, as well as fish.

The majority of Canada’s international assistance to Uganda is channelled through long-term institutional support to multilateral organizations such as UN agencies, the World Bank and the African Development Bank. Local organisations can apply for support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Recent CFLI projects have focused on climate change and human rights.

Canada also provides humanitarian funding to assist people affected by crisis in developing countries, based on need.

Uganda currently hosts nearly 1.6 million refugees from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other countries, most of whom rely on international assistance to survive.

In 2023, Canada has allocated $4 million to its humanitarian partners to help provide food and other critical assistance to refugees living in Uganda.