Defence Leadership Aligns Priorities as UPDF Strategic Retreat Concludes

The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) has concluded its annual Defence Strategic Retreat, with the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth Kiryowa Kiwanuka, presiding over the closing session on Monday.

He was joined by the Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, and the Minister of State for Veteran Affairs, Hon. Dr. Huda Abason Oleru.

The three-day retreat was officially opened on Saturday by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, at the Defence Intelligence and Security Headquarters in Mbuya.

Gen. Kainerugaba chaired the first two days of the retreat, guiding senior military commanders, ministry officials and civilian leaders through performance reviews, strategic assessments and coordination discussions aimed at strengthening the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF).

Reflecting on the UPDF’s performance during the 2025/2026 Financial Year, the CDF acknowledged the force’s achievements but stressed the need to improve efficiency and accelerate implementation of key strategic priorities.

“The overall picture is that we are steadily moving in the right direction, even though we must work a little bit faster,” Gen. Kainerugaba said.

He urged commanders and departmental heads to adopt SMART priorities—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound—to enhance planning, improve resource utilisation and strengthen accountability.

“Priorities that are SMART provide value for money, improve our efficiency and enable us to rigorously assess whatever we set out to achieve,” he noted.

At the conclusion of the retreat, Gen. Kainerugaba presented the consolidated strategic priorities to Defence Minister Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, marking the beginning of the implementation phase for the new planning cycle.

In his closing remarks, Hon. Kiryowa reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a modern, professional, affordable and sustainable UPDF capable of effectively safeguarding Uganda’s sovereignty while contributing to national development.

He also underscored the importance of increasing public awareness of the UPDF’s achievements, observing that many of the force’s successes remain largely unknown despite their significant impact.

“So much is being done, but so little is known,” the minister said, adding that “it is about time someone started blowing their own trumpet.”

Hon. Kiryowa pledged his full support for the UPDF’s budget priorities and called for a sustained public communication strategy to showcase the force’s contribution to national security, regional stability and socio-economic transformation.

The minister further commended Gen. Kainerugaba for the progress made in transforming the UPDF within a relatively short period and encouraged other government ministries, departments and agencies to emulate the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs’ results-oriented approach, anchored on prudent and efficient use of public resources.

The annual strategic retreat serves as a key planning platform for the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, aligning institutional priorities, resource allocation and operational objectives with Uganda’s broader national security agenda.

Other senior defence officials who participated in the retreat included the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, the Chief of Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Jack Bakasumba, and senior commanders from across the UPDF.

They were joined by top ministry technocrats led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rosette Byengoma, and the Under Secretary for Finance and Administration, Ms. Edith Butuuro, whose technical input will help shape the Ministry’s priorities and defence expenditure for the forthcoming financial year.

The post Defence Leadership Aligns Priorities as UPDF Strategic Retreat Concludes appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.