British army chief, Aronda discuss LRA
Feb 09, 2009
A senior British military officer, the chief of general staff (CGS), Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt, has held a meeting with the chief of defence forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima.
By Henry Mukasa
A senior British military officer, the chief of general staff (CGS), Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt, has held a meeting with the chief of defence forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima.
They discussed the on-going military offensive against Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in the DR Congo.
A statement issued by the defence and UPDF spokesperson, Maj. Felix Kulayigye, said it was the first time since 1962, when Uganda attained independence, that a British general of Dannatt’s level visited the country.
The meeting took place at the defence headquarters in Mbuya
“The CGS was given a security briefing on the history of various conflicts in the country, the developments in the UPDF and activities undertaken outside the country,†said Kulayigye.
“These include the progress on Operation Lightning Thunder and the peace mission in Somalia.â€
Kulayigye said Nyakairima thanked Britain for the development and military support rendered to the country.
Nyakairima told his guest that the UPDF had built capacity over the years, which enabled it to defend the country and execute pan-African missions.
He paid tribute to the British forces for their role in global security.
Dannatt briefed his host about the British operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“He said the British had a historical relationship with Africa and had a responsibility to maintain it,†Kulayigye said.
Dannatt said he was in Uganda to learn about the UPDF and what was being done about the LRA and the crisis in Somalia.
“Whenever there are difficulties, we all need to do our responsibilities,†he was quoted as having said.
Kulayigye said Dannatt agreed with the notion of local solutions to local problems and lauded the UPDF for building capacity to contribute to regional stability.
Dannatt was accompanied by the defence adviser for the British High Commission.
The meeting was attended by the commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, the joint chief of staff, Brig. Robert Rusoke, the chief of training, Brig S.M Kayemba and the camp commandant of land forces, Brig Hussein Adda.
Others were the chief of military intelligence, Brig. James Mugiria, the deputy chief of personnel, Col. Kasiita Gowa and the director of the defence review secretariat, Lt. Col. Charles Kisembo.
A senior British military officer, the chief of general staff (CGS), Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt, has held a meeting with the chief of defence forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima.
They discussed the on-going military offensive against Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in the DR Congo.
A statement issued by the defence and UPDF spokesperson, Maj. Felix Kulayigye, said it was the first time since 1962, when Uganda attained independence, that a British general of Dannatt’s level visited the country.
The meeting took place at the defence headquarters in Mbuya
“The CGS was given a security briefing on the history of various conflicts in the country, the developments in the UPDF and activities undertaken outside the country,†said Kulayigye.
“These include the progress on Operation Lightning Thunder and the peace mission in Somalia.â€
Kulayigye said Nyakairima thanked Britain for the development and military support rendered to the country.
Nyakairima told his guest that the UPDF had built capacity over the years, which enabled it to defend the country and execute pan-African missions.
He paid tribute to the British forces for their role in global security.
Dannatt briefed his host about the British operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“He said the British had a historical relationship with Africa and had a responsibility to maintain it,†Kulayigye said.
Dannatt said he was in Uganda to learn about the UPDF and what was being done about the LRA and the crisis in Somalia.
“Whenever there are difficulties, we all need to do our responsibilities,†he was quoted as having said.
Kulayigye said Dannatt agreed with the notion of local solutions to local problems and lauded the UPDF for building capacity to contribute to regional stability.
Dannatt was accompanied by the defence adviser for the British High Commission.
The meeting was attended by the commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, the joint chief of staff, Brig. Robert Rusoke, the chief of training, Brig S.M Kayemba and the camp commandant of land forces, Brig Hussein Adda.
Others were the chief of military intelligence, Brig. James Mugiria, the deputy chief of personnel, Col. Kasiita Gowa and the director of the defence review secretariat, Lt. Col. Charles Kisembo.