Charlene Ruto, daughter of Kenyan President William Ruto, has made an official courtesy call to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The engagement was held on Wednesday at the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe.
Her visit follows a recent statement by Gen Kainerugaba on his official X account (formerly Twitter), in which he announced plans to pay a visit to President Ruto in the near future an indication of ongoing efforts to strengthen the longstanding relations between the two neighboring countries.
Ms. Ruto was accompanied by Mr. George Nkya, Honorary Consul of Morocco; Mr. Festus Orina; Ms. Varsheeni Ragupathy; and Hon. Jane Frances Acilo.
While hosting the delegation, Gen Kainerugaba warmly received his visitors, and Ms. Ruto conveyed her appreciation for the cordial welcome and hospitality accorded to her team.
The meeting underscores the broad and dynamic relationship between Uganda and Kenya. As members of the East African Community, the two countries share not only a common border but also deep-rooted cultural connections, with several communities speaking similar languages and upholding shared traditions and ancestral heritage—fostering a distinctive bond between their peoples.
In addition to these cultural linkages, diplomatic and economic cooperation between Nairobi and Kampala continues to thrive.
Bilateral trade remains a key pillar of the regional economy, with trade volumes surpassing USD 1.5 billion in 2025.
At the same time, Kenya continues to play a pivotal role for landlocked Uganda by providing access to global markets through the Port of Mombasa, which handles the majority of Uganda’s imports and exports.
This mutual reliance makes the strong and amicable relationship between the two nations’ leaders and institutions, including their defence forces, essential for sustaining regional peace, stability, and economic growth.
