Uganda is hosting a two-day meeting of Commandants of Senior Command and Staff Colleges from East African Community (EAC) Partner States, in Kampala to review the status of cooperation in training.
The meeting is being held under Article 2 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs and forms part of the EAC Defence Sector Calendar of Activities.
Opening the meeting, Joint Staff Human Resource Management of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Maj Gen James Kinalwa, who represented the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commended the EAC Secretariat and Partner States for convening the forum.
“Your presence here demonstrates the importance that our militaries attach to professional military education and to strengthening cooperation in defence and security matters within the region,” Maj Gen Kinalwa said.
He said the meeting provides an opportunity for the colleges to share experiences in curriculum development, instructional methodologies, research, simulation, leadership development and strategic studies.
“Our task during this meeting is therefore not simply to discuss academic matters. It is also to consider how our institutions can collectively contribute to the development of professional, ethical and strategically capable military leaders who can support peace, security and stability in our region,” he said.
He said the increasingly complex, interconnected and transnational nature of contemporary security threats requires military leaders who are professionally competent, strategically minded and adaptable, with the ability to operate effectively alongside forces from other Partner States.
Maj Gen Kinalwa reminded the Commandants that Senior Command and Staff Colleges have a responsibility beyond imparting military knowledge, as they are institutions where future commanders and strategic leaders develop the capacity to analyse complex security environments, make sound decisions, and understand the wider political, economic, and social dimensions of security.
The Commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka, Maj Gen David Gonyi, who chaired the meeting, urged participants to focus on practical, implementable recommendations to improve the performance of their respective institutions.
He commended the EAC Secretariat for providing a platform for the colleges to review their progress and share experiences.
Maj Gen Gonyi observed that the rapidly changing security environment requires the colleges to innovate solutions that can match the modern threats.
“Given the complex environments in which the officers we train and operate in, we must continually ask whether what we teach, how we teach it and how we assess remains relevant to the given circumstances,” Maj Gen Gonyi said.
He challenged the Commandants to identify practices that should be maintained, areas requiring improvement and specific actions that could collectively strengthen the region’s military colleges.
Representing the EAC Secretary General, Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi, Uganda’s Defence Liaison Officer to the EAC, Brig Gen Matthew Gureme, said the forum is important in advancing the harmonisation of college programmes and curricula, and commended the progress made in the exchange of directing staff among the Partner States’ military colleges.
“By continuing to align our training, we pave the way for a wider exchange of students and directing staff across all institutions. This cooperation ensures that we promote our shared goal of building common standards, mutual trust and operational efficiency in our military training,” he said.
The meeting has attracted Commandants and representatives of Senior Command and Staff Colleges from EAC Partner States, Defence Attachés and Defence Liaison Officers, as well as representatives of the EAC Secretariat.
