FTX 13 Press Release-May 15 2013 Jinja Uganda

Uganda hosts the Eastern Africa Standby Force training Exercise, readiness for full Operational Capability emphasized.

May 15, 2013,  Jinja, Uganda.

Over 1292 Troops and Civilians from ten (10) African countries  of Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and the host country Uganda; under the auspices of the Eastern Africa Stand by Forces (EASF) are currently meeting inJinja.

The Field Training Exercise is code-named EASF FTX ‘Mashariki Salam 2013’ translated as ‘Peaceful Eastern Africa’.

The Eastern Africa Stand by Force is a regional organization whose mandate is to enhance regional peace and security in the region.

The current Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM)Director is Maj Gen (Rtd) Cyrille Ndayirukiye from Burundi, and  Brig Nakibus Lakara from Uganda is the Exercise Director.

EASF is one of the five regional Multi-dimensional components of the African Standby Force consisting of the Military, Police and Civilian elements.

The establishment of the force followed the decision of the African Union Summit held in 2004 to create the Eastern Africa Standby Brigade later re-named the EASF

There was a follow up implementation by the Council of Ministers of Defence and Security to establish a coordination mechanism.

The Eastern Africa Standby Force was also established as a regional mechanism to provide capability for rapid deployment of forces to carry out preventive deployment, rapid intervention, peace support and stability operations and peace enforcement.

The exercise seeks to endeavor a force readiness when called upon in the event of threats against any other African country.

Contingents from Burundi, Uganda, and Rwanda have already started the field simulation exercises that replicate an EASF mission.

Ongoing activities include interaction with the local communities and building a mini theatre and a paediatric ward at Namabu-Health Centre III as a memento to the community. This health Centre located 20km from Jinja will be officially handed over after the exercise.

The main objectives of the training are to test EASF’s ability to generate forces, plan, deploy, sustain and recover a multi-dimensional AU mandated mission and maintain and enhance regional cohesion and co-operation.

The Eastern African Standby Force has already conducted Exercises in Kenya, Djibouti and the Sudan.

For more information:
Spokesman for UDPF, Ministry of Defence, Republic of Uganda.