Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to rally East African Community (EAC) leaders to strengthen the regional standby force, according to allAfrica.com. The commitment comes as part of a broader push to revitalise the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), which has not convened a summit in 12 years, as reported by SoftPower News.
The pledge was made in the context of growing security concerns across the region. Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has backed the initiative, arguing that troop numbers alone are no longer sufficient, according to The Investigator News. He pointed to the role of technology, illicit networks, and rapidly changing conflict patterns as factors reshaping the security landscape.
Gen. Kainerugaba has also called for greater military self-reliance among East African nations, as reported by ChimpReports. The push for a stronger collective response comes as Eastern African states face emerging security threats that require coordinated action, according to the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF).
The Eastern Africa Standby Force is a regional mechanism designed to deploy quickly in response to crises. Its last summit was held 12 years ago, and efforts to convene a new one have stalled. Museveni's pledge signals a renewed diplomatic effort to bring EAC leaders together on the issue.
The move reflects a wider recognition among regional officials that traditional military approaches may not be adequate for current threats. The emphasis on technology and illicit networks suggests a shift toward more modern, integrated security strategies.
What to watch next: whether Museveni can successfully convene an EASF summit and secure concrete commitments from fellow EAC leaders to upgrade the force's capabilities.
