The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Inspector General of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Lt Gen Sam Okiding, has commended the Ethiopian Air Force academy, making a light-hearted comment that he would have considered becoming a pilot if he were younger.
An artillery expert, Lt Gen Okiding is passionate about his field, artillery, but expressed optimism about potential cooperation between the UPDF and the Ethiopian military in the air force sector.
During his visit to the Ethiopian Airforce Headquarters in Bishoftu, about 60 kilometres from the capital city, Lt Gen Okiding toured the Airforce Academy and other air force installations, including aviation maintenance, innovation departments, and the flying school.
Lt Gen Okiding, who represented the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, was received by Lt Gen Yilma Merdasa, Commander of the Federal Airforce.
Gen Okiding’s visit followed Gen Kainerugaba’s meeting with Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, where they discussed potential areas of cooperation in various military aspects.
This meeting was subsequently followed by a dinner hosted by the Ethiopian counterpart at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
At the Airforce headquarters, Lt Gen Okiding was accompanied by members of Gen Kainerugaba’s delegation, including Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, Commander of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Brig Gen Anthony Lukwago Mbuusi, Sector One Contingent Commander under ATMIS, and Col Fred Zakye, Uganda’s military attachĂ© to Ethiopia.
