Written By | Peter Luzinda
The EASF leadership is seeking renewed political support from regional governments to enhance the force's membership, financing, and operational capacity
Search
KAMPALA
President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to rally East African leaders behind efforts to strengthen the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and revive its Heads of State Summit, which has not convened since 2014.
Museveni made the commitment following a meeting with Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, Director of the EASF, at State House, Entebbe.
As Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), Museveni stated that he would engage fellow Heads of State on strengthening the regional force and advancing efforts to convene its summit.
The EASF leadership is seeking renewed political support from regional governments to enhance the force's membership, financing, and operational capacity.
Brig. Gen. Rwivanga requested Museveni to encourage Djibouti, Comoros, and Sudan to fully participate in the standby force, which combines military, police, and civilian capabilities for regional peace and security operations.
He also appealed to Museveni to mobilize other regional leaders to attend the EASF Summit, noting that it would provide an opportunity to renew political commitment and offer strategic direction to the force.
Museveni meeting the EASF
Furthermore, Museveni pledged to support initiatives aimed at improving the EASF's financial capacity, particularly for humanitarian assistance, rescue operations, rapid deployment, and emergency response.
The engagement comes as Kampala hosts the 36th EASF Policy Organs Meetings from August 10 to 15, bringing together officials from member states to discuss the force's operational readiness, governance, and regional security priorities.
Rwivanga also briefed Museveni on Uganda's contribution to the force, highlighting a recent three-day verification exercise that assessed the country's military, police, and civilian capabilities pledged to the EASF.
The exercise evaluated Uganda's readiness, interoperability, personnel, and equipment for potential rapid deployment in support of regional peace operations.
Museveni's pledge provides fresh political momentum to efforts to revive the EASF Summit and strengthen the region's collective capacity to respond to security and humanitarian emergencies.
