Uganda, through its department of disaster preparedness in the Office of the Prime Minister, has formalized a partnership with the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on early warning and early response initiatives.
The signing, which took place at Hotel Africana, concluded a significant meeting between EASF and Uganda’s early warning agencies.
Speaking at the event, Brigadier General Mwanje Ssekiranda emphasized the critical role of early intervention in averting conflicts, stating, “Intervening early is key to preventing the escalation and spread of conflict, thereby saving lives and protecting infrastructure.”
Mwanje further noted that early warning systems, as developed by EASF, are aligned with global standards set by the United Nations and African Union, and have the full backing of member states.
He stressed the importance of continuously enhancing these mechanisms to ensure they meet international benchmarks, enabling effective conflict management and contributing to peace and security in the region.
Brigadier General Domitien Kabisa, who leads peace support operations at EASF, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the meeting, acknowledging the valuable contributions made by the participants.
“The experiences shared here have enriched our understanding significantly. Uganda’s commitment has exceeded our expectations and has been crucial to the success of this program,” he remarked.
The MOU, which is now in effect, sets forth several key objectives designed to bolster cooperation in early warning and early response. These include enhancing timely crisis response, sharing conflict prevention data, strengthening capacities, conducting joint research, and exchanging lessons learned in managing crises.
The agreement also outlines the establishment of principles, roles, communication protocols, and dispute resolution mechanisms to facilitate effective collaboration between the parties.
Notable attendees included Brigadier General Peter Gaetano Omola, Commander of Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability, Leodinous Mwebembezi from the Ministry of Water and Environment, and Lt Col Lillian Shigoli from the Kenya Defence Forces.
Other participants were Assistant Commissioner of Police Florence Kirabira, coordinator for Small Arms and Light Weapons, and Enyimu William, a senior officer from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
