Gen Kainerugaba Urges East Africa to Build Military Self-Reliance

What the report says

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, urged Eastern African countries to place greater emphasis on military self-reliance and reduce dependence on external support that may be unreliable as regional security risks change. According to SoftPower News, he delivered the remarks in Kampala on Thursday, August 13, 2026, while opening the 36th Ordinary Session of the Eastern Africa military gathering referenced in the report.

The message reflects a wider discussion in the region about how armed forces can better prepare for shifting threats through stronger cooperation, local capacity-building and more independent defence planning. Kainerugaba’s comments suggest that East African militaries should develop systems that are less exposed to changes in foreign assistance and international partnerships.

SoftPower News also attached the report to a separate UPDF personnel reshuffle headline, noting that Ssemwanga was assigned to command the Reserve Forces and Busizoori became deputy Land Forces commander. The article snippet does not provide details on whether those appointments were directly connected to Kainerugaba’s remarks.

More broadly, the call fits ongoing debates in Africa over defence readiness, regional security coordination and the balance between external support and domestic military capability. The report indicates the address was aimed at senior military audiences in Eastern Africa, but it does not give further specifics on any policy decisions announced at the session.