Uganda has maintained its readiness to continue supporting the East African standby force (EASF) towards fulfilling its mandate of enhancing peace.

This was confirmed on Thursday, May 2, 2024, by the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth Oboth, while meeting with Brigadier General (Rtd) Paul Kahuria Njema, the Director of EASF, at the Defence Headquarters in Mbuya.

The force that was established in 2005 is mandated to enhance peace and security, and ensure conflict prevention, early warning and preventive diplomacy, peace building, intervention and humanitarian action, and disaster management.

Oboth said Uganda will continue to support EASF to ensure that it fulfils its mandate of enhancing peace and security within the East African region.

“As the government, we are here to support and ensure that EASF fulfils its mandate,” said Minister Oboth.

He commended the force for upholding its mandate, especially in areas of early warning, prevention, management, and conflict resolution in the region.

Minister Oboth applauded all the development partners of EASF and their representative, Jens Lindvig, the Danish Defence Attache to Kenya, for facilitating the operations of the force.

Brigadier (Rtd) Njema acknowledged Uganda’s unwavering support for the force, describing it as a valuable partner.

“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 together to work together towards a common objective,” noted Brig Njema.

During the meeting, all the member states of EASF were urged to fulfil their obligations towards enhancing African solutions for African problems.

The meeting was also attended by several officials, including Rosette Byengoma, the Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary, Major General Jackson Bakasumba, the Chief of Joint Staff; Brig. Gen. Alex Olupot, Joint Staff Training and Doctrine; and Brig. Gen. Gaetano Omola, the Commandant Uganda Rapid Deployment Capacity Centre.

The Eastern Africa Standby Force is a regional organization comprising troops from Burundi, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Somalia, the Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, whose mandate is to enhance peace and security within the region.