East Africa Community (EAC) member states Armed Forces, police personnel and civilians kicked off a two-week 12th command Post Exercise code named, “Ushirikiano Imara.’’
The exercise is taking place at Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre, Jinja-Uganda. It comprises of 6 contingents from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda which is the host.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Rwanda Defence Force Army Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Jean Jacques Mupenzi.
Speaking at the event, the Exercise Director, Maj Gen Sam Kavuma said “The exercise seeks to help in planning and conducting of peace support operations, counter terrorism, counter piracy operations and Disaster management with the purpose of enhancing the capabilities of the partner States’ Defence Forces to combat complex security challenges.’’
Col Gerald Butera, who spoke on behalf of the EAC Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko said that the EAC Defence Forces have gone beyond exercises and are operating together in several missions such as the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United Nations/ African Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)