The Minister of Defence, Jacob Oboth, has said Uganda is ever ready for the formation of the Eastern Africa standby force.
Oboth was speaking while meeting the Director of Eastern Africa standby force Brig Gen (rtd) Paul Kahuria Njema at Mbuya military headquarters in Kampala.
“As the Government of Uganda and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, we are here to support and ensure that EASF fulfils its mandate. Such a force is of great importance in areas of early warning, prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts,” Oboth said.
Uganda People’s Defence Forces –UPDF were among the East African troops sent to provide peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2023.
Their services alongside Kenya forces were often criticized by the Kinshasa government as being useless because M23 rebels kept capturing more areas in their presence.
Brig Gen Njema acknowledged Uganda’s unwavering support towards EASF.
“Uganda has been a valuable partner in EASF, and we appreciate your continuous support. Uganda stands for a united Africa, an Africa that is one, and it can only be one when we bring our resources to work together towards a common objective,” Brig Gen Njema said.
Oboth lauded the development partners of EASF, represented by Jens Lindvig, the Danish Defence Attaché to Kenya, who chairs the Friends of EASF, especially in terms of funding. According to Oboth, the Eastern Africa standby force can be a reality only if member states fulfil their obligations to enhance African solutions for African problems.
The meeting was attended by Defence’s Permanent Secretary Rossette Byengoma, Maj Gen Jackson Bakasumba, the Chief of Joint Staff; Brig Gen Alex Olupot, the Joint Staff Training and Doctrine; and Brig Gen Gaetano Omola, the Commandant Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre.