Defence ministry to send more women on peacekeeping mission

The state minister for defense and veteran affairs Bright Rwamirama on Friday revealed to the UN Regional Service Centre (RSCE) in Entebbe of government plans to increase the number of female army officers on peacekeeping missions.

This was during the awarding ceremony of 39 female peacekeepers with certificates in Women's Outreach Course and ICT Skills in communication technology

 "We have been overwhelmed by the performance of female military officers while on mission, and therefore we will increase their participation in peacekeeping missions." Rwamirama said.

Uganda provides the biggest contingent of soldiers to the AU force in Somalia with 6223 troops and Rwamirama estimated that about 30% of UPDF peacekeepers are female.

Through Security Council Resolution 2122/2013, UN member states agreed that gender equality is critical for international peace and security and therefore called for participation of women in peacekeeping missions.

He extended government appreciation to UN for entrusting Uganda on security stability in the great lakes region and assured them commitment to avail peacekeepers in times of need.

"Our security forces are disciplined while on peacekeeping missions and this explains why Uganda is a backbone of security and stability in the great lakes region."

The minister of state for foreign affairs Okello Oryem promised UN officials that government will avail more land for expansion of United Nations Signals Academy (UNSA) for mission peacekeepers in and out of Africa.

The Signals Academy was established in 2010 to strengthen peacekeeping operations by combining practical training for UN contingents and signals experts

It was also set up to enable teaching of UN operating procedures, equipment and familiarization with operating in a peacekeeping environment.

"Government is ready to avail more land and facilitate the expansion of RSCE as UN Continue to provide support to peacekeeping missions." Oryem said.

He added, "Uganda as the host nation will benefit since our security organizations will be trained here in different skills to beef up our security. And we have enough land to expand the training Centre."

RSCE and signal academy were by UN General Assembly resolution with an aim to provide efficient, scalable and client-oriented services for UN peacekeeping missions in East and Central Africa making it the biggest on the continent.

Since its inception, RSCE accommodates more than 7,000 trainees and conference participants each year for missions in Africa and the world.

Safia Boly, the director RSCE explained that Uganda was chosen to house the regional offices due to her participation and contribution to UN peacekeeping missions across Africa.

"Initially we had about three peacekeeping missions in Africa, the number increase to about 20 missions and most of which are around East Africa. Uganda has extensively arbitrated to restore peace and this explains why we have regional offices here." She said.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda Rosa Malango extended her gratitude to Uganda as the lead host of refugees in Africa and second in the world.

"Uganda has been welcoming to refugees. Government allows them to work, send their children to school, and provide health facilities. We have to say thank to the Uganda government." She noted.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) indicate that Uganda is hosting about I million asylum seekers majorly from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Somalia.

Malango is certain that the skills in communication technology attained by women will increase their appointment in peacekeeping forces.

Awards

The two weeks training was intended to availing skills in Information Communication Technology (ICT) for female security officers deployed in peacekeeping missions in war tone areas.

39 officers from 17 countries worldwide were awarded certificates of excellence and will spread the skills attained in the training to their counter parts in missions.

Lorna Mukhaye a signaler with UPDF in Somalia noted she acquired skills in sending clear signals and information technology settings with the latest military technology.

Vistorina Nicodemus an IT specialist from Namibian Police Force explained that she is ready to take on assignments in IT systems that were dominated by men while on mission.

"Initially women were not given opportunities like men regarding military technology and I can now handle these positions." She explained