B Tom Mugisha, tom.mugisha@alleastafrica.com
KAMPALA – Military and defence experts from East African Community member states are on Monday meeting in Uganda to discuss regional security.
A statement issued by the Ugandan army on Sunday says the meeting will take place from November 20 to 24.
“The purpose of the meeting is to further the Peace and Security Strategy that was adopted in November 2006, the Protocol on Peace and Security, as well as the EAC Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Mechanism adopted in January 2012 at the EAC joint meeting of the sectoral councils on Cooperation in Defence. It is also in line with the EAC Peace and Security Protocol set objectives for fostering regional peace and security,” the statement reads.
The meeting, according to UPDF, is pursuant to Article 10 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs and in accordance with the EAC Calendar of Activities for the period July – December 2017.
Under the protocol, the militaries from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan carry out annual activities intended strengthen regional security.
According to sources, meeting will discuss the situation in South Sudan and Burundi.
Today, the defence experts will meet to discuss operations and training and finish tomorrow. The sectoral committee on Cooperation will meet November22 to discuss the recommendations of the experts before a consultative meeting on regional security is convened on November 23 before the meeting ends on Thursday.
