Multinational military exercise for the five member countries of East African Community EAC 1810122

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Defense News - Uganda
 
 
Thursday, October 18, 2012, 04:06 AM
 
Multinational military exercise for the five member countries of East African Community EAC.
A contingent of Ugandan troops are in neighbouring Rwanda for a two week long multinational military exercise involving the five member countries of the East African Community (EAC). Capt. Deo Akiiki, the media and public affairs officer for the Uganda contingent told Xinhua on Monday, October 15, 2012, that the exercise involving Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania will equip the troops with skills in planning and conducting of peace support operations, disaster management, counter terrorism and piracy.
     
A contingent of Ugandan troops are in neighbouring Rwanda for a two week long multinational military exercise involving the five member countries of the East African Community (EAC).
Soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) engage in urban operations training in a mock urban setting nicknamed "Little Mogadishu", during training aided by the U.S. Military at the Singo training facility in Kakola, Uganda. (Archive image)
     

The combined joint field training exercise code named "Ushirikiano Imara' 2012" kicked off on Sunday at Rwanda Military Academy, Gako in the Eastern Province and on Lake Kivu in the Western province.

The exercise expected to be attended by over 1,600 military personnel will end on Oct. 28.

"The purpose of the EAC field training exercise is to improve the capabilities of the EAC partner states armed forces to combat complex security challenges," said Akiiki.

"The exercise is in line with Article 125 of EAC treaty which provides for partner states to cooperate in defense affairs and the memorandum of understanding framework on defense, which provides that we shall carry out military trainings and operations together," he said.

Brig. Gen. Nakibus Lakara is leading Uganda's contingent.

"We wish all our troops the best in this exercise as we continue to build a strong security and defense system amongst EAC member states," said Akiiki.

Similar military exercises have been carried out in the five member states since 2000.