A senior delegation from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) completed a benchmarking mission with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, focusing on military welfare systems. The visit, described as a move to strengthen bilateral cooperation, occurred just days after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni made controversial statements warning of potential future wars over access to the Indian Ocean for landlocked nations.

The UPDF team, led by Deputy Commander of Land Forces, Major General Francis Takirwa, was hosted by the KDF's Defence Forces Welfare Services (DEFWES) at Moi Air Base in Eastleigh. According to an official KDF statement, the visit aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge on welfare programs, including housing, healthcare, education, and post-service support for military personnel and their families. The delegation was briefed by DEFWES Managing Director, Brigadier Peter Limo, on Kenya's comprehensive welfare framework, which covers veterans' support, cooperative societies, and sustainable income-generating ventures like the DEFWES Mall in Embakasi, which the delegation also toured.

Diplomatic Undercurrents

The timing of the military exchange has drawn significant attention due to President Museveni's remarks made during a radio talk show at Mbale State Lodge on or around Sunday, November 9, 2025. President Museveni argued that landlocked countries like Uganda are entitled to the Indian Ocean for both economic and strategic defence purposes, calling it "madness" for any coastal nation to claim exclusive ownership. "That is why we have had endless discussions with Kenya... But that ocean belongs to me. Because it is my ocean. I am entitled to that ocean. In future, we are going to have wars," Museveni stated.

The Kenyan government has officially responded, downplaying the severity of the comments. During a media briefing on Wednesday, November 12, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing'oei stated that President Museveni's remarks were likely "metaphorical" and should not be interpreted as a literal threat. "I believe very much that he has a fairly great understanding with respect to the nature of our territory, and the nature of our rights with respect to our natural resources," Sing'oei commented, reassuring that Kenya remains committed to international territorial laws. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also weighed in, assuring that Kenya will continue to facilitate access to the Port of Mombasa for all landlocked countries in line with international conventions.

A Symbiotic, Yet Strained, Relationship

Uganda is a critical trading partner for Kenya and the single largest user of the Port of Mombasa, accounting for the vast majority of transit cargo. This economic interdependence is the backbone of a relationship that, while historically strong, has faced periodic strains over trade and infrastructure projects. President Museveni's comments allude to long-standing frustrations over the logistics and costs associated with the Northern Corridor, the transport route that connects Uganda to the Kenyan coast.

Despite the political rhetoric, military-to-military cooperation between the KDF and UPDF remains robust. The two armed forces are key members of the East African Community (EAC) and collaborate under a Defence Cooperation Agreement on issues like counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and joint training exercises. These exercises, such as the "Ushirikiano Imara" series, are designed to enhance interoperability for regional peace support, disaster management, and counter-piracy operations. The benchmarking visit by the UPDF delegation is consistent with these ongoing cooperative efforts. Major General Takirwa praised the KDF's "innovative and structured welfare system" and stated that the UPDF would seek to emulate the knowledge gained.

The juxtaposition of a routine military cooperation visit against a backdrop of potentially destabilizing presidential rhetoric highlights the complex and multi-layered relationship between Nairobi and Kampala. While official channels work to maintain diplomatic calm and military partnerships continue, President Museveni's remarks have publicly surfaced underlying tensions regarding regional resource access and economic dependency, requiring careful navigation from both nations to ensure long-term stability in East Africa. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED into any unpublicized diplomatic exchanges following the remarks.