The East African Community (EAC) has concluded its multi-national command post exercise aimed at strengthening regional counter-terrorism defense and rapid response capabilities.
Codenamed Ushirikiano Imara, the 14th edition of the annual drill closed on Friday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. The joint exercise brought together military, police, and civilian components from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Somalia monitored the operations as observer states. The participants trained under a centralized framework designed to harmonize command structures during humanitarian emergencies, piracy threats, and terror attacks.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Hon. Soipan Tuya, presided over the closing ceremony. She described regional integration as a strategic necessity for sustaining peace and security across East Africa. Hon. Tuya explained that the simulated real-life scenarios built invaluable operational readiness and mutual trust among partner states. She noted that the training successfully proved that the regional bloc possesses the unified capability needed to preserve the sovereignty of its people.
“Integration is a strategic necessity for our peace and security, which remains a key pillar in the development of our region,” Hon. Tuya stated.
Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Charles Kahariri, noted that modern regional conflicts demand identical operational standards among multinational units. He explained that establishing a common understanding simplifies command and control pathways during active field deployments. Exercise Director Major General John Nkoimo added that the ultimate metric of success for the joint deployment remains the protection of civilian lives.
“This exercise has tested our readiness through togetherness,” Major General Nkoimo observed.
The Force Commander, Brigadier General Ernest Nuwagaba, commended the high levels of discipline displayed by the joint units. He emphasized that solid coordination between armed personnel and civilian agencies remains the actual foundation of the region's defense matrix. Ms. Allen Ruhangataremwa, representing the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (HQ URDC) Jinja, praised the inclusion of civilian actors. She noted that their involvement provided a practical blueprint for handling modern socio-economic security crises.
High-ranking regional dignitaries attended the closing ceremony, including Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Hon. Juvenal Marizamunda, and Uganda’s Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Huda Abason Oleru. They were joined by the UPDF Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Sam Okiding, alongside top military chiefs from Burundi and Tanzania. Representatives from the EAC Secretariat, led by Brig Gen Matthew Gureme, also witnessed the final field presentations.
