The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi has attributed the safety of delegates without any threat during the recently hosted international summits in Uganda to the joint security forces that remained committed to ensuring that security is guaranteed.

While speaking at a Thanksgiving ceremony held at Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday, February 1, 2024, Gen Mbadi elaborately talked about how security agencies successfully maintained peace and safety during the summits.

Gen Mbadi said that a Joint Intelligence Committee headed by Brigadier Charles Oluka, the Head of Internal Security Organisation, comprised of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), Crime Intelligence (CI), Internal Security Organisation (ISO), and External Security Organisation (ESO), was established to steer Foundation Security.

He noted that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the Commander in Chief of all the armed forces, closely supervised the operations both day and night to ensure that there was maximum security and safety for delegates.

According to the CDF, the massive security apparatus that was deployed to ensure security during the recently concluded summits in Uganda was later extended for many days to guarantee safety for many delegates who are still in the country.

“I thank the President for the successful guidance he offered as the CIC. I also applaud the community for the massive support offered to security, which made NAM a success, and lastly, I want to thank all the intelligence services and a joint security team. We therefore commit ourselves to continuing to maintain security for the country as enshrined in the Constitution. The biggest takeaway from the summits is that togetherness creates enormous strength,” Gen Mbadi said.

While presiding over the ceremony, President Museveni said that the successful hosting of the summits has exposed African capacity for hosting international summits.

“In fact, the Minister of Russia told me it’s only the World Super Powers who can organise such events successfully,” President Museveni said.

During the same function, the Minister of Defence, Vincent Ssempijja Bamulangaki, said that security was able to neutralise a group that had previously attempted to carry out terror activities in Uganda before the summits with the view of scaring delegates.

“The recent hosting of summits was a rare occasion in the history of Uganda, and as a result of the steady leadership Uganda has ever enjoyed. There were negative forces that, in the preceding months leading up to the summit, concentrated on blackmailing Uganda to show the world that Uganda was not ready to host the summit. The same group also organised terrorist attacks in the country, but security contained them,” Minister Bamulangaki said.

Uganda recently hosted a series of international summits from January 15–22, 2024, without any security threat to the delegates drawn from over 134 countries around the world.