Regional Standby Force verification exercise commences in Uganda
According to the release, Lt Gen. Bakasumba reiterated Uganda’s commitment to African peace and security.
Lieutenant General Jack Bakasumba, Chief of Joint Staff of the UPDF, and Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) (centre), pose for a group photo with senior military officers and other EASF dignitaries at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala, on August 6, 2026. (Courtesy)
________________
The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) has commenced a Force Verification Exercise in Uganda for three days from 6th to 8th August 2026.
The regular roster and force verification exercises include validating, updating and ensuring the deployment readiness of military, police, and civilian personnel for regional peace support operations.
The exercise is in line with the approved EASF Activity Plan for 2026 and the strategic goal of maintaining a multidimensional capacity ready for peace support operations.
The EASF Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Pledged Forces for Deployment, among others, commits member states to make available personnel and equipment necessary for the accomplishment of the mission’s objectives.
A release from the ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs states that officers from the EASF currently in Uganda include: present: Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, Director of EASF, and Brigadier General Stephen Maina Huria, Force Commander.
Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) (centre). (Courtesy)
On arrival at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Mbuya on August 6, the group were formally received by Lieutenant General Jack Bakasumba, the Chief of Joint Staff of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF).
Lieutenant General Jack Bakasumba, Chief of Joint Staff of the UPDF. (Courtesy)
According to the release, Lt Gen. Bakasumba reiterated Uganda’s commitment to African peace and security.
He underscored the importance of sustained cooperation among EASF member states in advancing African agency and strengthening continental resilience in addressing security challenges.
The Chief of Staff, according to the release, also highlighted the ongoing efforts to sustain Somalia’s peace support operations as a clear example, particularly in view of the planned withdrawals of United Nations and other international partners’ support to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
He assured the verification team of the readiness of the UPDF’s pledged troops, police contingents, civilian personnel, and equipment, reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to the Eastern Africa Standby Force.
The exercise will verify Uganda’s pledged police and civilian capabilities on 6th August, followed by the verification of military capabilities on 7th and 8th August. This comprehensive process ensures readiness for rapid deployment in peace support operations and underscores Uganda’s steadfast commitment to regional peace and security under the EASF framework.
Relatedly, the Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, commended the Republic of Uganda for its steadfast commitment to the EASF cause, particularly through its timely financial contributions to the regional bloc. He further reiterated the commitment of the EASF to fulfilling its mandate and advancing the vision of a more stable and secure Africa.
“Uganda’s dedication demonstrates the spirit of freedom, solidarity, and collective responsibility,” he said, adding that verification exercises for personnel and equipment are essential to ensuring a credible and capable force for combined operations under the EASF.
The rapidly evolving security environment, he noted, marked by transnational threats and recurring disasters across the region, requires collective preparedness and the development of an interoperable force to effectively address these challenges.
The Eastern Africa Standby Force is a regional security mechanism established under the African Union Peace and Security Architecture. It is composed of nine member states: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda.