800 UPDF cleared for joint East Africa force
East African Standby Force police commissioner Kahsay Gebre, Force commander Domicien Kabisa and EASF Chief of Staff James Kinalwa inspect military equipment at Singo Military Training School yesterday.
DPU PHOTO
What you need to know:
Government also donates military equipment to the East Africa Standby Force.
Kampala- At least 800 UPDF soldiers have been inspected and validated by the regional East African Standby Force (EASF) and are ready for deployment.
Uganda has also pledged 30 infantry fighting vehicles, 10 tanks, air defence assets, artillery assets, a fully-fledged level one military hospital, engineering component, logistic equipment and a signal component, among others.
The Chief of Staff of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre, Brig Matthew Gureme, told the EASF team that inspected the Ugandan troops in Mubende and Singo military training schools yesterday that troops were also deploying sophisticated military communication equipment.
“The signal system we are contributing to EASF, allows for both voice and data communication. It will allow the troops communicate to friendly Forces directly anywhere in the continent and the world,” Brig Gureme said.
Ugandan contingent will be commanded by Col Peter Omola. If assigned a task today, his troops would be in the theatre in less than 14 days.
“In case of serious emergency, we would even respond in lesser days like was the case for South Sudan,” he said.
The inspection team comprised of EASF commander, Brig Gen Domicien Kabisa, the head of administration, Col Peter Kalimba, the Chief of Staff, Col James Kinalwa, and the Commissioner of Police, ACP Kahsay Gebre.
