The Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), Brigadier General (Rtd) Paul Kahuria Njema, has praised Uganda for standing for a united Africa, stating that it is a valuable partner in the EASF.
He made these remarks on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while meeting with the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) in Mbuya.
Brig. Gen. Njema stated that Africa can only function as a single entity when its members pool their resources to pursue a common goal, while also recognising Uganda’s steadfast support for 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 together to work towards a common objective,” he stated.
The Eastern Africa Standby Force is a regional organisation whose mandate is to enhance peace and security in the Eastern Africa region. It is one of the five regional multidimensional forces of the African Standby Force (ASF), consisting of military, police, and civilian components.
Hon. Oboth-Oboth reaffirmed Uganda’s dedication to helping the EASF carry out its mandate.
“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,” he said.
Hon. Oboth lauded the Force for its efforts in realising its mandate, which includes early warning, prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts.
The EASF Member States were urged by the Minister and his guest to fulfil their responsibilities to enhance African solutions for African problems.
EASF was established as a regional mechanism to provide capability for the rapid deployment of forces to carry out preventive deployment, rapid intervention, peace support and stability operations, and peace enforcement.
Brigadier General Gaetano Omola, the Commandant of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre (URDCC), Major General Jackson Bakasumba, Chief of Joint Staff, Brigadier General Alex Olupot, Joint Staff Training and Doctrine, and Rossette Byengoma, Permanent Secretary of the MODVA, were present at the meeting.