Military intelligence chiefs from the East African Community (EAC) have Wednesday met in Kampala as part of the cooperation in defence affairs of the community states.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye said the meeting took place at Lake Victoria Serena Hotel in Kigo, Wakiso district.

“This is one of their quarterly meetings under the protocol on cooperation in Defence Affairs,” Kulayigye said in a tweet, adding that the commandant of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. James Birungi, is the host.

Although details of their closed meeting were not released to the media, sources revealed that the intelligence chiefs discussed, among other things, the instability in DR Congo and how to counter the rebel groups wreaking havoc there.

For years, the eastern part of DR Congo has been unstable due to attacks by M23 rebels and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on civilians and the Congolese army.

At the beginning of the month of May, intelligence chiefs of Uganda and DR Congo met in Kampala to discuss security issues as the two countries battle ADF extremists in the jungles of eastern DR Congo.

Maj. Gen. Birungi met his counterpart from DR Congo, Maj. Gen. Michel Mandiangu Mbala, at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.

A statement from the UPDF then said that Gen. Birungi congratulated DR Congo upon their admission to the East African Community and thanked his counterpart for honouring his invitation.

Birungi observed that it was important to have such engagements on matters of mutual interest and national security amongst the two sister countries.

On his part, Gen Mbala said the meeting was an opportunity to update themselves on the joint operations the two countries are engaged in, particularly Operation Shujaa in Eastern DR Congo against the ADF terrorists.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence. Brig. Gen. Abdul Rugumayo, Assistant Deputy CMI in Charge of Intelligence, Brig. Gen. Tom Kabuye, among other senior UPDF and FARDC officers.