Gen Kainerugaba honours Samora Machel at Mozambican Armed Forces Day

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MAPUTO - Every September 25, Mozambique observes Armed Forces Day, also known as Revolution Day. 

This day commemorates the beginning of Mozambique's War of Independence in 1964 (60 years ago), an armed conflict between the country's guerrilla forces and colonial power Portugal. 

The Mozambican Armed Forces Day usually starts with the honouring of fallen heroes at the Heroes Square in the Capital Maputo. 

Other events include military parades, demonstrations, and the awarding of medals to remarkable military heroes.

On Wednesday, President Jacinto Nyusi, presided over the he main celebrations and awarded medals to several military personnel. Former president Joachim Chissano also attended the events.

Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defense Forces of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) was among senior army officers from different countries to honour the day on Wednesday.

CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba interacts with Senior army officers in Maputo on Wednesday.

The Uganda delegation also included UPDF Marines Commander Brig Gen Michael Nyarwa and Military Police Commander Brig Gen William Bainomugisha.

During the celebrations, Gen Kainerugaba, who is the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations interacted with African military chiefs at Heroes Square and also laid a wreath on Samora Machel's tombstone.

He then joined the guests, then witnessed military exhibitions by the Mozambican Marine Forces, Air Force, and other military capabilities.

Several other military commanders from East and Southern African countries and beyond attended the celebrations.

President Nyusi later hosted the top African military chiefs from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Lesotho, Eswatini, and other South African nations and beyond at a luncheon featuring local traditional music dancers. 

CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba pays respects to former Mozambique President Samora Machel on Wednesday.

A release from the CDF's office states that "the high-level UPDF delegation demonstrates commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Kampala and Maputo".

It should be noted that less than a fortnight ago, Uganda and Mozambique signed a non-visa waiver agreement during the Joint Permanent Commission meeting in Kampala, another gesture that the relationship between the two countries is growing.

Historic Relationship

Notably, Uganda and Mozambique share a history through the friendship of Mozambican founding president Samora Machel and Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni. 

This relationship is well-documented in President Museveni's writings and public speeches. 

CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba with other senior military offices in Mozambique on Wednesday.

For instance, in his daughter Patience's book, "Jesus' Africa," President Yoweri Museveni notes in the foreword: "By some coincidence, my children were born on dates of either global or national importance."

He recalls that at the time of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba's birth on April 24, 1974, "Early the following day, I excitedly rang His Excellency Samora Machel to tell him the good news about my family." 

President Museveni reveals that Samora, who later became Mozambique’s founding president was at the time busy listening to radio news from Lisbon, Portugal, where a revolution against the Fascist Government of Marcel Caetano was taking place.

Gen Kainerugaba was born a day before the Portuguese Revolution, which initiated the collapse of the Portuguese Empire in Africa that lasted 500 years. 

As President Museveni says, this revolution was a great victory for African anti-colonial fighters in Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and the islands of Sao Tome and Principe.

"The independence of Mozambique in 1975 was decisive for our struggle in Uganda," Gen Museveni says in the book. 

"Although Frelimo, at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere's request, had trained three batches of officers from our group, Fronasa, the most useful was the one I directly supervised while training at Montepuez between 1976 and 1978. It is that group of 28+1 that created the Fronasa Army of 1979 and, eventually, the NRA (National Resistance Army) and UPDF (Uganda People's Defense Forces)."

Gen Kainerugaba's visit to Mozambique on this important day rekindles the sentiments expressed by President Museveni. 

CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba pays respects to former Mozambique President Samora Machel on Wednesday.

Growing bilateral relations

In a different engagement, the CDF on Thursday held talks with his Mozambican counterpart, Chief of General Staff of the Mozambique Armed Forces (FADM), Admiral Joaquim Mangrasse in Maputo.

During talks at the Mozambican Armed Forces Headquarters on Thursday, the Mozambican military chief thanked Gen Kainerugaba for honouring their invitation to the Armed Forces Day celebrations.

The two military leaders acknowledged the historic relations between Uganda and Mozambique established through President Yoweri Museveni’s friendship with Mozambican founding President Samora Machel. 

They further engaged in bilateral discussions aimed at enhancing the relations between the two military forces.

The meeting was also attended by top military leaders from the Mozambican Armed Forces plus Brig Nyarwa, and Brig  Bainomugisha.