EASF Inspects UPDF, Declares Uganda Mission-Ready

NAKASEKE, August 7, 2026 — Uganda’s military readiness for regional peace support operations has received a boost after the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) verified the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces’ (UPDF) personnel, equipment and deployment capabilities, reaffirming Kampala’s position as a key contributor to East Africa’s collective security architecture.

The verification exercise, conducted at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre (IPSO-TC) in Singo, Nakaseke, assessed the capabilities Uganda has pledged to the EASF under its 2026 Activity Plan.

The exercise is designed to ensure that forces committed to the regional standby mechanism maintain the personnel, equipment and multidimensional capabilities required for rapid deployment when called upon to support peace operations across Eastern Africa.

Leading the EASF delegation, Force Commander Brigadier General Stephen Maina Huria commended the UPDF for what he described as its professionalism, detailed training and preparedness for regional missions.

“I am really impressed by the way you conduct your training. It is very detailed,” Brig Gen Huria said.

He said the verification had confirmed the operational readiness of the Ugandan contingent and its ability to contribute to future regional peace support missions.

“The troops are mission-ready and highly motivated, well equipped for the task. I can assure you, I am fully satisfied that your forces are ready,” Huria said.

Uganda’s expanding regional security role

The assessment comes as Uganda continues to play a prominent role in regional security operations, with the UPDF involved in peace support and stabilisation missions in several conflict-affected areas.

The UPDF has contributed forces to operations and missions in Somalia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among other theatres.

The Commandant of IPSO-TC, Colonel Moses Nabaasa, said Uganda’s record of participation in regional peace operations demonstrates its commitment to collective security.

“Our commitment has been demonstrated through our contributions to global peace and security through active participation in peace support operations in various regional countries like Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and many other theatres where we found ourselves as UPDF operators in peace in the whole region,” Nabaasa said.

He said Uganda’s EASF contingent had been trained in line with EASF and United Nations standards and was prepared for rapid deployment.

“We have no doubt that our Standby Force has all the attributes required. Once given an opportunity at short notice to operate in any environment, we are always ready for the cause,” he said.

Nabaasa added that the contingent had undergone comprehensive individual and collective training to meet operational requirements while improving interoperability with forces from other EASF member states.

Beyond the military

The verification was not limited to the UPDF’s military component. EASF also assessed Uganda’s pledged police and civilian components, reflecting the multidimensional nature of modern peace support operations under the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.

The inclusion of military, police and civilian capabilities is intended to give the standby force the flexibility to respond to complex regional crises requiring more than conventional military intervention.

The EASF brings together Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda as part of a regional mechanism designed to strengthen collective responses to conflicts, crises and humanitarian emergencies.

For Uganda, the successful verification reinforces its strategic role in East Africa’s emerging collective security framework and highlights the UPDF’s continued emphasis on readiness for rapid regional deployment.

The exercise also provides a measure of Uganda’s preparedness to support regional peace and stability at a time when East Africa continues to face security challenges requiring coordinated responses among member states.