The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) has expressed confidence in the readiness of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) to participate in regional peace support operations following a verification exercise conducted at the International Peace Support Operations Training Centre (IPSO-TC) in Singo.
The exercise, conducted under the EASF Activity Plan 2026, assessed personnel and equipment pledged by Uganda to the regional standby force as part of efforts to ensure member states maintain multidimensional capabilities that can be rapidly deployed in support of peace and security 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, high training standards and commitment to collective regional security.
“We are really excited and happy that you have joined in this, and we are in this together because when you consider yourself as East Africa’s Standby Force, you’re part of it. I am really impressed by the way you conduct your training. It is very detailed,” Huria said.
He said the verification exercise 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,” he said.
The Commandant of IPSO-TC, Colonel Moses Nabaasa, said the training centre remains an important institution in preparing personnel for regional and international peace support operations.
Nabaasa said Uganda’s commitment to collective security had been demonstrated through the UPDF’s participation in peace support operations in several parts of Africa, including Somalia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“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 the standby force had been trained in accordance with EASF and United Nations standards and remained prepared for deployment whenever required.
“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 Ugandan contingent had undergone comprehensive individual and collective training designed to meet operational requirements and improve interoperability with other regional forces.
The verification exercise also assessed Uganda’s pledged police and civilian components, highlighting the multidimensional nature of peace support operations under the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.
The EASF is a regional security mechanism comprising Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. It was established to strengthen the region’s collective capacity to respond to conflicts, humanitarian crises and other security challenges.
The verification of Uganda’s pledged capabilities is part of broader efforts by the regional standby force to ensure member states maintain personnel, equipment and other resources capable of being deployed rapidly when required.
