In line with strengthening its capacity to counter regional instability and bolster international peace, Uganda has dispatched 40 officers from the Army and Police for a field training exercise in Tanzania.
The contingent including UPDF and Police officers was flagged off on Friday for the Command Post exercise that is set to last for two weeks until December 17.
Brig Jimmy Kinalwa the Commandant of the Junior Staff and Command College (JSCC) presided over the flagging off event on behalf of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Under the code name “Ushirikiano Imara”, the skills training will be conducted in Dar-es-salaam with participants including the Armies and Police from EAC partner states.
Brig Jimmy Kinalwa revealed that the exercise is intended to sharpen the skills of participants in countering regional instability and security threats as well as supporting international peace.
He noted that security remains a primary concern for the EAC region due to the current unstable situation in countries such as; the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia and South Sudan.
The training in Dar-es-salaam is also intended to consolidate lessons learnt from previous similar EAC exercises that focused on improving inter-operability and enhancement of regional readiness to respond to regional security challenges.
Brig Kinalwa implored the Uganda contingent commanded by Brig Stephen Kashure to observe discipline and be good ambassadors of the country.
During the recently concluded East Africa Community Ordinary Sectoral meeting on Cooperation in Defence held in Kampala from November 20 to 24, EAC Defence and Security Ministers ratified the Defence Pact for co-operation and security.
At the meeting, both lthe Deputy Secretary General (DSG) of the EAC in-charge of Political Federation, Charles Njoroge and Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Adolf Mwesige had underscored the central role of security in regional development.
They emphasized that cooperation efforts in defence and security from partner states will go a long way to create a more conducive environment for the advancement and fulfillment of the long-cherished dream of a peaceful and stable region.
