Gen Muhoozi Salutes Indian Military Advisors as Two-Year Uganda Mission Concludes

The Indian Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT), led by Brigadier General BS Fogat, officially bid farewell to Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, marking the conclusion of their two-year deployment in the country. The farewell meeting took place this afternoon and served as a testament to the enduring military cooperation between the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of India.

During the meeting, Gen Kainerugaba expressed profound appreciation to Brig Gen Fogat and his delegation for their invaluable contributions to the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), particularly in professionalizing training and capacity-building efforts at the Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) in Kimaka, Jinja.

“Your presence has significantly enriched the strategic and operational knowledge of our senior officers. We are grateful for your unwavering support in developing our institution and strengthening bilateral defence relations,” Gen Kainerugaba remarked.

The IMATT has played a critical role in mentoring UPDF officers through tailored curricula, tactical simulations, and the inculcation of modern warfare doctrines. Over the past two years, their expertise has helped to upgrade the training methodology at SCSC, ensuring that Uganda’s military leadership is well-equipped to address evolving security challenges both at home and in regional operations.

In his remarks, Brig Gen Fogat thanked Gen Kainerugaba and the UPDF leadership for the hospitality and seamless collaboration extended to his team during their tour of duty.

“It has been an honour to serve alongside such committed professionals. We are proud of the joint accomplishments, and it’s our hope that the progress made will continue to grow under the new team,” said Brig Gen Fogat.

He further lauded Gen Kainerugaba’s hands-on involvement in the military training programs, noting that the CDF's strategic direction and emphasis on standards were pivotal to the success of their mission.

The outgoing Indian team, which has been instrumental in enhancing UPDF’s operational readiness, will be succeeded by a new group of military advisors to ensure continuity in training and doctrinal development. This handover underscores the strong defence partnership rooted in shared goals of peace, security, and professional military education.

The presence of IMATT in Uganda is a product of longstanding Uganda-India military cooperation dating back several decades. Through such deployments, India has supported various training programs and contributed to the transformation of UPDF into a more agile, professional, and regionally respected force.

This collaboration is also part of India’s wider defence diplomacy in Africa, where knowledge transfer, peacekeeping support, and joint exercises are used to foster mutual trust and development.

As Uganda looks ahead, the incoming IMATT contingent is expected to build on the legacy of its predecessors by continuing to refine leadership development at the SCSC and foster stronger institutional ties between the two nations’ armed forces.

The farewell of Brig Gen Fogat’s team is not an end but a renewal of commitment between Uganda and India. As Gen Kainerugaba emphasized during the engagement, training remains a cornerstone of the UPDF’s modernization agenda, and international partnerships like that with IMATT will remain essential in realizing Uganda’s national defence vision.

The event was attended by senior UPDF officials, Indian defence attachés, and representatives from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, reflecting the significance of the occasion in the realm of international military cooperation.