Turkey to train UPDF, special forces

Pivot of Ankara’s expanding influence in Africa

ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | The Turkish government has recently put the Military Training Cooperation Agreement signed with Uganda on its agenda for approval. It is expected that the agreement, once approved by the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, will soon go into effect with its endorsement in the General Assembly.

The Military Training Cooperation Agreement, signed on September 13, 2022 in Ankara, establishes a legal framework for military training. Activities include exchange programs, joint exercises in various military fields, cooperation between Special Forces commands in the field of training, mine and improvised explosive device (IED) combat and communications, electronics, information systems, electronic warfare and cyber defense.

Additionally, military personnel from Uganda will receive training in intelligence.

According to Article IV of the agreement, the terms outlined within it pertain to officers, noncommissioned officer cadets, special sergeants, rank-and-file personnel and civilian staff for the Ugandan Armed Forces. The individuals who are accepted for training or participation could be accompanied by their dependents.

As a component of Turkey’s broader initiative to foster military relations in Africa, the existing military cooperation between the two nations, which commenced in the 1990s, evolved significantly with the formalization of a military cooperation agreement in 1996.

On December 12, 2019 then-Ugandan Defense Minister Bright Rwamirama made an official visit to Ankara, where he engaged in discussions concerning bilateral cooperation in regional military affairs and the defense industry with Hulusi Akar, his Turkish counterpart at the time. During the visit Rwamirama also had meetings with representatives of various Turkish defense contractors, including the Beyler Group, Nurol Machinery and Defense, Integras Security and Defense, Tetico Technical Trade Co. and Özaltın Holding. The Ugandan government later extended invitations to several Turkish companies to explore business opportunities in the country.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar (R) welcomed his Ugandan counterpart, Bright Rwamirama, in Ankara on December 12, 2019.

On May 3, 2024 a military delegation from Uganda participated in EFES-2024, one of the largest exercises of the Turkish Armed Forces, held in Istanbul and consisting of two phases: Computer-Assisted Command Post and Live Fire.

The People’s Defence Force (UPDF), formerly known as the National Resistance Army, serves as the armed forces of Uganda with a total estimated strength of 40,000 to 45,000 members, including land forces and an air wing, as reported by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Recruitment occurs on an annual basis.

The Ugandan military recently sparked controversy with a contentious appointment. On March 24, 2024 Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, designated his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as head of the military. At 48 years of age, Kainerugaba, a general in the military, is widely regarded as the potential successor to his father and has previously provoked controversy by suggesting a possible invasion of neighboring Kenya. The ministry, in a statement, confirmed his appointment to replace Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, who has been reassigned as a junior minister.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kampala on June 1, 2016.

In 2022 Museveni relieved his son from his position as commander of Uganda’s land forces following threats made on social media, including posts about invading Kenya. Kainerugaba’s social media activity also included expressions of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the conflict in Ukraine. Kainerugaba has long been seen as poised to succeed his father, who, at 79, has governed Uganda for nearly four decades.

Turkey’s enhancement of military cooperation with Uganda can be seen as a strategic step towards establishing close collaboration with the country’s future leadership.

Turkey is actively seeking new markets in Africa for its defense industry, a sector in which it has heavily invested in recent years. Turkey has already established bilateral agreements with 14 African countries, focusing on military training, cooperation in industrial production, procurement and maintenance of military and defense equipment. Additionally, these agreements encompass technical and logistical support, information sharing and research collaboration, effectively expanding the market opportunities for defense conglomerates close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey is selling drones to a number of African countries, including Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Ethiopia, Togo and Somalia. These drones include the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) produced by Turkey. Known for their performance in various conflict zones such as Libya, Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh in recent years, Turkey’s military drones are manufactured by Selçuk Bayraktar, who is also President Erdogan’s son-in-law. One significant advantage of opting for Turkish drones is that Turkey does not impose a lengthy export approval process, unlike the United States and the European Union. Furthermore, in addition to drones, light weapons, military vehicles and tank ammunition have also seen an increase in exports in recent years.

The Turkish Defense Ministry often showcases Somali officers and soldiers trained in Turkey, with the military school at the Turkish Task Force Command in Somalia, Turkey’s largest military base abroad, playing a pivotal role. Turkish officers are assisting in restructuring the Somali army. Turkey has trained approximately 5,000 Somali soldiers and officers, roughly a third of the Somali army, with this number expected to increase. Additionally, Turkey provides Special Forces training to the Gambian military.

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Source: Nordic Monitor