Brigadier General Stephen Tumwesigye Kashure, the Chief Evaluator of the upcoming Command Post Exercise “Ushirikiano Imara 2023,” inaugurated pre-mission training for the Uganda Contingent Wednesday, June 6th, at the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (NCOA), Jinja.
The yearly Command Post Exercise “Ushirikiano Imara” emphasizes the East African Community’s (EAC) commitment to regional peace and security. The exercise is multi-national, multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional, and multi-cultural, and it is carried out in compliance with the EAC Partner States Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs.
Brig. Gen. Kashure stated in his speech that the many roles included in this training are intended to prepare participants to perform efficiently.
“We are not in this just for fun or mere social interaction. We, as a country and a region, are in this process for eventual political regional integration,” Brig. Gen. Kashure said.
He noted that such activities allow for the conscious, organized, and methodical planning of East Africa’s long-term survival and urged its rational actors to establish channels of communication and involve all parties in major decisions, particularly those involving security planning that ensures social and economic transformation.
He urged the participants to maintain their composure and work with other nations throughout the exercise. Keep in mind that discipline serves as the catalyst for all endeavors.
“I will have failed in my duty as a senior leader if I don’t emphasize discipline. Remember, discipline is the fulcrum that drives any activity,” he added.
The main goal of the exercise is to practice as the EAC Partner States Armed Forces and other participants in planning and conducting Peace Support Operations (PSO), Counter Terrorism, Counter Piracy, and Disaster Management to enhance their capacity in combating complex security challenges.
This year’s Command Post Exercise will take place in Musanze, Rwanda.
The exercise will involve seven East African Community partner states. These include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.