Ethiopia, Uganda Ink Agreement to Cooperate in Military Field

Ethiopia and Uganda have signed an agreement today that would help the two east African nations to work together in the military field. The Defense Minister of Uganda, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja and the country's defense forces Chief of Staff, General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi is in Addis Ababa for an official visit. The Uganda military officials were warmly welcomed by Minister of Defense, Abraham Belay and Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Field Marshal Birhanu Jula at the headquarters of ENDF. Consequently, the defense ministers of the two countries signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding. Similarly, the chiefs of staff of the two countries signed a document that comprises a detailed plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding, according the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. Speaking at the occasion, Minister of Defense Abraham Belay said that the agreement will further consolidate the relationship between Ethiopia and Uganda. The minister indicated that the tw o countries have signed this agreement in order to ensure their mutual benefits in terms of information exchange, military capacity building, peacekeeping, regional and other related issues. The Defense Minister of Uganda, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja said on his part that Uganda is determined for the execution of the agreement. Uganda is a friendly country to Ethiopia and the two countries have also been working together on Pan-Africanism, said Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula. He also affirmed his country's commitment to implement the military agreements. Source: Ethiopian News Agency