Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has opened the military’s annual strategic retreat, bringing together senior commanders and civilian officials to review defence performance and map out priorities for the next financial year.
The three day meeting, being held at the Defence Intelligence and Security Headquarters in Mbuya, is focused on strengthening coordination between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs as the government prepares its plans for the 2026/27 financial year.
Gen. Kainerugaba presided over the opening sessions on Saturday and continued chairing discussions over the weekend. The sessions centered on reviewing institutional performance, assessing ongoing programmes and improving coordination between military leadership and senior ministry officials.
The retreat is expected to conclude on Tuesday, when the army chief will present a consolidated set of strategic priorities to the Minister of Defence, who is scheduled to officially close the conference.
Military officials said the annual retreat plays an important role in refining the ministry’s strategic planning process and ensuring that defence policies remain aligned with Uganda’s evolving national security needs.
The meeting has drawn senior commanders from the UPDF alongside top technocrats from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs. Among those attending is Under-Secretary for Finance and Administration Edith Butuuro, reflecting the government’s emphasis on closer collaboration between military operations and civilian administration.
Officials said the discussions are also expected to guide defence spending decisions for the 2026/27 financial year, with participants identifying priority areas for funding in line with the country’s security objectives.
The annual retreat comes as government institutions prepare budgets and strategic plans for the next financial cycle, with defence remaining one of the sectors expected to balance operational readiness with evolving regional and domestic security challenges.
