Uganda has pledged to provide search and air rescue capabilities to the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) to strengthen the regional force’s ability to respond to security threats, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.
The commitment was announced during a meeting between Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka and a delegation led by EASF Director Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga at the Ministry headquarters in Mbuya.
The meeting followed the 36th Ordinary Policy Working Group meeting held in Kampala and a verification exercise assessing Uganda’s operational readiness, interoperability and pledged equipment.
The verification was conducted at the Uganda Police Force, the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre in Singo and the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability in Jinja.
Kiwanuka said strengthening regional preparedness was critical to enabling African countries to respond to security challenges without relying heavily on external support.
He assured the EASF delegation that Uganda would make its search and air rescue capabilities available to the regional force.
Brig Gen Rwivanga said the EASF verification team was satisfied with Uganda’s operational readiness, equipment and capabilities, noting that the experience gained by Ugandan forces through years of operations in Somalia had strengthened their preparedness.
He said the EASF was also expanding its focus to humanitarian assistance and disaster response, requiring stronger regional capabilities.
Rwivanga noted that Ethiopia had pledged C-130 transport aircraft, Kenya would provide air reconnaissance, while Rwanda had offered medical humanitarian assets. Uganda’s air rescue capability, he said, would complement these assets and strengthen the region’s ability to respond to disasters.
State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Defence), Hon. Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, stressed the importance of African solidarity in achieving lasting peace and addressing emerging security challenges.
The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to provide the support pledged to the EASF, saying regional security requires collective action by member states.
He said the complexity of security threats in Eastern Africa makes cooperation and unity essential to protecting the region.
The meeting was attended by senior UPDF and EASF officials, including UPDF Chief of Joint Staff Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security Maj Gen Richard Otto, EASF Force Commander Brig Gen Stephen Maina Huria and EASF Chief of Joint Staff Brig Gen Stephen Kashure.
