The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) has initiated the process of recruiting and verifying civilian personnel in Uganda.
During the launch of the exercise in Kampala, Brigadier General Stephen Kashure, the Joint Chief of Staff of the Eastern Africa Standby Force, highlighted its rotational nature among the ten member nations, stating, “We are an entity that unites ten countries, and our exercises are conducted on a rotational basis. As a result, it may take a while before Uganda hosts another session.”
He stressed the importance of meticulous recruitment, comprehensive training, and adherence to international humanitarian law to ensure deployment readiness, aligning with EASF’s three primary mandates: conflict prevention, management, and resolution.
“Professionalizing civilians within the EASF, under the African Union, is vital for addressing instability using African-led solutions. This demands a strategic approach to policy direction and peacekeeping efforts,” remarked Brig Gen Kashure.
He further emphasized the essential role civilians play in resolving conflicts, asserting, “Civilians provide the real solutions to these disputes. The military can only engage in combat, but lasting peace is built by civilians,” while advocating for ongoing capacity-building initiatives.
Addressing concerns regarding the force’s lack of deployments over the past two decades, he dismissed criticism by comparing EASF to a fire department that remains valuable even when no emergencies arise. “Our primary focus is prevention. However, if required, we are fully prepared to manage conflicts and work toward resolution,” he assured.
Mr. Arthur Kamya, representing the Permanent Secretary, reaffirmed Uganda’s dedication to regional stability and security.
“We acknowledge EASF as a multidimensional force integrating the military, police, and civilian sectors. This workshop underscores our commitment to preparedness in handling conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, and natural disasters,” Mr. Kamya stated.
He further explained that strengthening the civilian component enables swift and efficient deployments to mitigate such crises.
Mr. Kamya underscored Uganda’s awareness of regional security dynamics, noting that conflicts in neighboring nations directly impact Uganda, whether through an influx of refugees or disruptions in trade.
Mr. William Enyimu, Principal Human Resource Officer at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and Uganda’s National Civilian Focal Point for EASF, reaffirmed the significance of the recruitment and verification exercise.
“This initiative is essential for updating Uganda’s roster and addressing issues previously raised by participants,” he noted.
The Eastern Africa Standby Force is a regional entity dedicated to fostering peace and security across the Eastern Africa region.
It is one of the five regional, multidimensional forces of the African Standby Force (ASF), comprising military, police, and civilian components.
EASF Member States include Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda.
