Uganda has dispatched a specialized 69-member contingent to Nairobi, Kenya, to participate in a high-level regional security simulation.
The joint team includes personnel from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force, and Uganda Prisons Service alongside civilian experts. They will join other East African Community (EAC) member states for the 14th edition of the Command Post Exercise (CPX), dubbed “Ushirikiano Imara 26.” The drill runs from May 8 to May 28, 2026, focusing on unified responses to regional threats.
Brig Gen Micheal Kabango, the Commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka, presided over the flag-off ceremony. He described the mission as a vital step toward the total integration of the East African federation. The General challenged the officers to act as exemplary ambassadors of Uganda during their three-week stay in Kenya.
“This exercise you are going for is a testimony of the milestone in the integration of the East African federation,” Brig Gen Kabango said. “Carry our flag high, make it shine, and represent our country with honour and integrity.”
Brig Gen Ernest Nuwagaba, the Commander Headquarter Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (URDC), leads the Ugandan delegation. He noted that the team’s diverse composition will foster better synergy among partner states. He emphasized that the simulation creates a unified mission environment for military and civilian actors to tackle shared challenges.
“This multi-dimensional team will strengthen coordination among states and inter-agency actors working together in a unified mission environment,” Brig Gen Nuwagaba stated.
The exercise operates under the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs. Senior Superintendent of Police Denis Ochama confirmed the police will handle joint operational planning and response. Meanwhile, Senior Immigration Officer Joseph Humphrey Wejuli explained that the civilian component includes experts in humanitarian aid and correctional services. These specialists will provide essential advisory services to the mission leadership throughout the exercise.
