What Is He Up To? Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba Meets UAE Prince Just Days After Holding Talks With Rwanda Top Military Bosses

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has this Friday met His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, a member of the Dubai ruling family.

The prince was leading a delegation from the UAE to Uganda.  The meeting, according to a communication from the CDF’s office, aimed at strengthening Uganda’s military cooperation with the UAE.

“UAE is a vital trading partner and a strategic ally of Uganda, reaffirming the significance of the bond between the two nations,” the message further read.

Today’s meeting, which took place at the Special Forces Command Headquarters in Entebbe, was attended by Uganda’s Air Force commander, Maj Gen Charles Okidi.Uganda and UAE enjoy cordial and mutually beneficial relations, characterized by several MoUs signed in various fields and exchange of high-level visits.

In 2023, Muhoozi, who also doubles as the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, visited the UAE where he met with counterterrorism experts.Uganda opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2007, while the UAE embassy was opened in Kampala in 2011.

According to the Uganda Export Promotion Board, UAE is the leading market for exports from Uganda within the Middle East and Gulf countries, accounting for approximately 94% of all exports from Uganda.

There has been a significant surge in exports to the UAE from US$300 million in 2018 to US$2 Billion by 2022.Similarly, there has been a surge in Foreign Direct Investment to Uganda from the UAE of approximately US$ 3 billion and imports from UAE to Uganda are estimated at US$ 1.1 billion. 

Uganda’s primary export products to the UAE include gold, fish and coffee.Recently, the Ugandan and the UAE governments have recognized the mutual trade and business opportunities, thus strengthening relationships and goodwill.

Relatedly, The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Wednesday afternoon, April 17 held a meeting with a delegation from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) at Mbuya UPDF Barracks.

The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, on Wednesday afternoon, April 17 held a meeting with a delegation from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) at Mbuya UPDF Barracks. Leading the RDF delegation was Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, the RDF Army Chief of Staff.

A message from the CDF’s office indicated that the meeting focused on bilateral and regional security matters. It emphasized that such engagements are routine and form part of ongoing security dialogues between Uganda and Rwanda.

Photographs from the event show that Major General James Birungi, the Chief of Defense Intelligence and Security (DIS), was also present at the meeting along with other officials.

General Kainerugaba, who also serves as the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, has played a significant role in fostering improved relations between Uganda and Rwanda. His efforts have included multiple meetings with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in both Uganda and Rwanda.