📸 African Military Chiefs Conference kicks off in Kampala

KAMPALA - The four-day African Defence Chiefs’ conference hosted by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, kicked off Monday with technical discussions at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Uganda's capital, Kampala.

The four-day conference on Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), running until Thursday, is discussing emerging security threats ranging from cyber warfare and artificial intelligence to terrorism, climate change, pandemics and border security.

Opening the defence technical discussions, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, called for stronger African cooperation and practical coordination among militaries to address emerging and increasingly complex security threats facing the continent. (All Photos by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Bakasumba said Africa’s security environment has evolved significantly from traditional state-to-state warfare to a broader range of conventional and non-conventional threats.

Opening the defence technical discussions, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, called for stronger African cooperation and practical coordination among militaries to address emerging and increasingly complex security threats facing the continent.

This was shortly after he welcomed delegates from over 18 African countries who had already arrived at Munyonyo,  the diplomatic community, the African Union, regional economic communities and other regional mechanisms.

According to Bakasumba, the conference provided an opportunity for African military and security institutions to develop coordinated responses to threats that increasingly extend beyond conventional warfare.

The defence chiefs from about 27 African countries are expected to discuss emerging security threats ranging from cyber warfare and artificial intelligence to terrorism, climate change, pandemics and border security.

The conference on Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), running from October 5-8, 2026, is being organised by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF)  and hosted by the Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF). Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Bakasumba said Africa’s security environment has evolved significantly from traditional state-to-state warfare to a broader range of conventional and non-conventional threats.

He identified transnational terrorism and violent extremism, organised crime, cyber warfare, climate-related security challenges, competition over resources, economic sabotage, illicit financial flows, public health emergencies, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, piracy, border insecurity and attacks on critical infrastructure as some of the challenges requiring collective attention.

Bakasumba noted that militaries have consequently been compelled to adjust their security approaches to deal with both kinetic and non-kinetic threats, either independently or while supporting civilian authorities.

However, he observed that military personnel are often expected to perform these roles despite limitations in training, specialised equipment, early-warning systems and standard operating procedures.

He said these challenges informed the establishment of the conference, which seeks to improve preparedness and coordination for military operations other than war.

While acknowledging that many of the issues on the agenda are already familiar to military professionals, Bakasumba stressed that the major challenge is developing a coordinated continental response.

“It is our regional cooperation that must be enhanced. It is our standard operating procedures, SOPs, that require standardisation,” he said.

He also called for improved coordination in military training and equipment procurement, arguing that African countries should combine their capabilities and opportunities to strengthen collective security.

Bakasumba said the desired cooperation can only be achieved through a unified approach.

“We gather here today with a shared belief that Africa must strengthen African-led, practical and coordinated responses to these emerging threats.”

He urged participants to ensure that the conference produces tangible mechanisms that go beyond discussions and can be incorporated into military doctrines, standard operating procedures, training programmes, early-warning systems, joint communication platforms, information-sharing arrangements and deployable capabilities. 

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The four-day conference on Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), running until Thursday, is discussing emerging security threats ranging from cyber warfare and artificial intelligence to terrorism, climate change, pandemics and border security. (All Photos by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)