France backs Uganda on regional security interventions

By Innocent Anguyo

Charmed by the performance of Uganda’s security forces, the French Government has announced that it will continue working with the East African country in pacifying the region.
           
Speaking at the Bastille Day reception Tuesday evening at her residence in Kampala, Sophie Makame, the French Ambassador to Uganda described the cooperation between the armies of the two countries as “dynamic and mutually beneficial.”

“We will continue to work side by side to promote Uganda’s active participation in regional security mechanisms as well as in African frameworks of strategic dialogue,” said Makame.
           
France and Uganda enjoy a time-honored partnership in military interventions in the greater East African region, especially in war-wrecked Somalia.
           
Since 2006, the French Army has trained more than 18,000 Uganda soldiers before their departure to pacify the volatile “Horn of Africa” under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union with the approval of the United Nations
           
Generally, France has offered specialised military training to more than 22,000 Ugandan troops.

The Uganda-France military partnership has equally seen Ugandan troops go on internship programme in French military schools and regional training centers in Africa.
           
On last year’s Bastille Day, Makame noted that Uganda had “demonstrated not only its operational capabilities on many theatres, notably Somalia and Central African Republic, but above all its determination to commit itself in the elaboration of regional security mechanisms which will ensure African States self-reliance in crises management.”

The involvement of the French military mission in the teaching of French language to Ugandan officers at the Jinja Junior Staff College has equipped them in the fight against the Lord’s Resistance Army being carried out in two Francophone countries: Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Noting that Uganda was the second leading investment and business destination for French companies in East Africa, Makame pledged to raise the profile of Uganda as an attractive business destination back in France. The 30 French companies Uganda make up for a total investment of $1b.

She announced that France was offering technical expertise to Uganda in preparation for the December Climate Change summit to be held in Paris.

James Baba, the state minister for internal affairs thanked France for supporting Uganda in preparation for the summit, saying he hoped the event would reach a lasting solution to global warming.

Makame congratulated Makerere University for becoming the first Ugandan tertiary institution to join the Francophonie University Agency as an associate member.
           
Nevertheless, it wasn’t only an evening of dreary diplomacy as Ugandan singer Susan Kerunen made a spirited performance before the guests got drowned in French culinary and wine, considered to be the best in the world.
           
Bastille is a national holiday to ensure national unity loyalty of the French to their country and reestablish France’s military power by commemorating on the collective memories and shared hopes.

On July 13 1789, Parisians were protesting political oppression of the Bourbon monarchy. Next day, the ordinary people also took to the streets and stormed the Bastille fortress, a store of gun –powder.

The rioters succeeded and since May 1880, July 14 has been celebrate for its political and symbolic impact; a symbol for the French Republican movement. It also resonates with the country’s motto: “liberty, equality, fraternity.”