The Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has met with his Mozambican counterpart, Admiral Joaquim Mangrasse, the Chief of General Staff of the Mozambique Armed Forces (FADM), in Maputo.
Their discussions focused on enhancing military cooperation between the two countries, building upon a shared history forged through the friendship of President Yoweri Museveni and Mozambique’s founding leader, Samora Machel.
The meeting took place at the Mozambican Armed Forces Headquarters and highlighted the longstanding relationship between Uganda and Mozambique.
This bond was originally established during the independence struggles in Southern Africa, with Mozambique playing a pivotal role in Uganda’s own liberation movement.
President Museveni has often reflected on this connection, noting that the 1975 independence of Mozambique was critical to Uganda’s struggle, especially in the formation of the National Resistance Army (NRA), which later evolved into the UPDF.
Gen Kainerugaba, who was in Maputo for Mozambique’s Armed Forces Day celebrations, was accompanied by key Ugandan military figures, including Brig Gen Michael Nyarwa, Commander of the UPDF Marines, and Brig Gen William Bainomugisha, Commander of the Military Police. During the celebrations, which commemorate Mozambique’s War of Independence from Portuguese colonial rule, Gen Kainerugaba laid a wreath at Heroes Square on the tomb of Samora Machel, honoring Mozambique’s revolutionary past.
Mozambique’s Armed Forces Day, also known as Revolution Day, is held every September 25th to mark the 1964 start of the war for independence. It is celebrated with military parades, demonstrations, and the awarding of medals to distinguished military personnel. This year’s event was attended by military commanders from East and Southern African countries, reflecting the importance of regional cooperation in defense and security.
Admiral Mangrasse expressed his gratitude to Gen Kainerugaba for attending the celebrations and for honoring the invitation extended by the Mozambican military. He emphasized that Uganda and Mozambique’s military ties are rooted in history and are continuously evolving to address modern challenges.
The strengthening of military cooperation between the two nations comes at a time of growing bilateral relations.
Less than two weeks before Gen Kainerugaba’s visit, Uganda and Mozambique signed a non-visa waiver agreement during a Joint Permanent Commission meeting in Kampala. This agreement is another sign of deepening ties, further easing the movement of military and civilian personnel between the two countries.
Gen Kainerugaba’s visit to Mozambique also rekindles the sentiments expressed by President Museveni, who has often spoken of the significance of Mozambique’s support in Uganda’s liberation efforts.
In his daughter Patience Museveni’s book, Jesus’ Africa, President Museveni recounts how Samora Machel was one of the first people he contacted following the birth of his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in 1974—just a day before the Portuguese Revolution that would lead to the collapse of Portugal’s colonial empire in Africa.
The historic bond between Uganda and Mozambique, forged in the crucible of the African liberation movements, is being sustained by the current generation of military leaders. Both Gen Kainerugaba and Admiral Mangrasse have committed to ensuring that their countries’ armed forces continue to work closely together in addressing regional security concerns, building on the foundation laid by their predecessors.
As the Armed Forces Day celebrations concluded, President Jacinto Nyusi hosted Gen Kainerugaba and other African military chiefs at a luncheon that featured traditional Mozambican music and dance.
The event, attended by leaders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Lesotho, and Eswatini, highlighted the importance of regional solidarity and military collaboration across East and Southern Africa.
With ongoing engagements, such as the non-visa waiver agreement and the exchange of military expertise, Uganda and Mozambique are poised to further solidify their military partnership, ensuring that the historic relationship between the two nations remains strong for years to come.
