Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations, met with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa on Monday.
The meeting took place at the National Palace and highlighted the growing ties between Uganda and Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of Ethiopia’s armed forces, hosted Muhoozi alongside Ethiopia’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula. The discussions revolved around strengthening military collaboration between the two nations, with a focus on intelligence sharing, training programs, and military production.
Gen Muhoozi’s visit to Ethiopia, which began on Saturday, was marked by significant engagements with Ethiopia’s military leadership.
On Sunday, he held talks with Field Marshal Jula, further cementing the close relationship between the two nations’ armed forces. Following their meeting, Gen Kainerugaba took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his appreciation, describing Ethiopia as his “ancestral home.”
“I thank my beloved brother, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, for the invitation to visit my ancestral home Ethiopia. Uganda and Ethiopia are blood brothers who can never be separated,” Muhoozi wrote.
This is not the first time Muhoozi has engaged with Ethiopian leadership. In 2022, while serving as the Commander of Land Forces, he visited Ethiopia, where he met with PM Abiy Ahmed, toured the Ethiopian Air Force headquarters in Bishoftu, and visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. These earlier engagements laid the groundwork for continued cooperation between the two nations.
The meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed underscores the commitment of both nations to bolster their strategic partnership. Uganda and Ethiopia share a long history of collaboration in regional peace and security matters, and this visit is a testament to their shared vision for stronger bilateral relations.
Gen Muhoozi visit also holds symbolic significance, as he referred to Ethiopia as his “ancestral home,” a nod to the historical and cultural connections between the two countries. With discussions emphasizing military cooperation, the visit is expected to pave the way for deeper collaboration in areas such as defense technology and regional stability.
As Uganda and Ethiopia continue to strengthen their bonds, the high-level engagements serve as a reminder of the enduring relationship between the two nations, rooted in mutual respect and shared aspirations for peace and progress in the region.