Eastern African states have been urged to strengthen regional security mechanisms and deepen cooperation to effectively respond to emerging security threats. The call was made by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, while opening the 36th Ordinary Policy Working Group meeting of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) in Kampala on Monday, August 10, 2026.
The meeting brings together experts from EASF member states to discuss reforms aimed at strengthening the regional peace and security mechanism. Bakasumba said Eastern Africa needs institutions capable of anticipating emerging security challenges while responding effectively to existing threats.
“Peace is sustained through cooperation and secured through institutions that are capable of anticipating tomorrow’s challenges while responding to today’s realities,” Bakasumba said. He described Eastern Africa as a region with enormous potential, citing its growing economies, youthful population and expanding regional connectivity.
However, he said sustainable peace and security are essential to unlocking that potential. Peace and development are inseparable. Investment in regional peace and security institutions is ultimately an investment in economic transformation and the long-term resilience of our continent,” he said. Bakasumba reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to the EASF and the African Union’s peace and security agenda, urging member states to work together to build a stronger and more responsive regional security architecture.
“African solutions to African problems shouldn’t wait for anyone to come in and rescue us. We have the capabilities. We have the numbers,” he said. EASF Director Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga called for greater regional self-reliance as Eastern Africa faces increasingly complex security challenges amid declining external support for peace operations.
Rwivanga said African countries must prepare to shoulder greater responsibility for maintaining peace and security on the continent. “It is important for us to build internal resilience, and Africa must increasingly prepare to shoulder greater responsibility for its own peace and security,” he said. He, however, described the changing security environment not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity for the EASF to demonstrate its readiness to take on greater responsibilities.
“For EASF, this should not be viewed as a challenge alone. It should be viewed as an opportunity,” he said. Rwivanga said the EASF has spent the past two decades building its capacity through training, exercises, force verification and interoperability. However, he stressed that operational capability alone cannot guarantee an effective regional security mechanism.
“Operational readiness alone is not enough. A capable regional mechanism must also be supported by sound governance, sustainable financing and effective oversight,” he said. He urged delegates to approach the discussions with open minds and keep the interests of the region at the centre of their deliberations.
“The recommendations you make over the coming days will directly influence how the EASF positions itself to remain credible, effective and sustainable in an increasingly demanding world. Let us seek consensus. Let us challenge ideas, not each other,” Rwivanga said.
The Chairperson of the Experts Working Group, Brig Gen Emmanuel Kazahura, urged experts from EASF member states to draw on their collective knowledge and experience to strengthen the regional peace and security mechanism. He said the quality of their recommendations would directly influence decisions by the EASF’s policy organs. “The strength of the Eastern Africa Standby Force has always rested on the collective expertise of its member states,” Kazahura said.
He noted that emerging security threats are increasingly interconnected, requiring the EASF to continuously review its policies and systems to remain effective and sustainable. The meeting is expected to provide the technical foundation for reforms aimed at making the EASF stronger, more sustainable and better prepared to respond to the region’s changing security needs. The Experts Working Group is considering reforms in areas including resource mobilisation, finance and service regulations. Its recommendations will be submitted to the Committee of Chiefs of Defence and Security and ultimately to the Council of Ministers for consideration-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
