Uganda Opens First African Defence Chiefs Conference on Military Operations Other Than War in Kampala

SPEKE RESORT MUNYONYO — Uganda on Monday opened the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Forces Conference on Military Operations Other Than War at Speke Resort Munyonyo, bringing together defence leaders, operations experts and peace mission commanders from more than 18 African countries to discuss responses to security threats that fall outside conventional warfare.

The four-day meeting, running from 5 to 8 October 2026, is organised by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF). It is hosted by the Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Opening remarks were delivered by the Chief of Joint Staff, Lt Gen. Jack Bakasumba.

Lt Gen. Bakasumba told participants that Africa’s security environment has shifted, requiring armed forces to prepare for terrorism, organised crime, cyber threats, public health emergencies and climate-related crises alongside traditional roles. He said the conference was planned to develop practical and coordinated mechanisms rather than remain limited to familiar discussions of known challenges. He also highlighted the role of Pan-African cooperation in sustaining regional peace and security, noting contributions from regional leaders, defence establishments, Regional Economic Communities and partners.

Military Operations Other Than War cover activities such as peace support operations, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, counter-terrorism, protection of critical infrastructure and support to civil authorities during major emergencies. Agenda items include transnational threats, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, gender mainstreaming, climate change and disaster management, natural resource management, maritime and border security, space and environmental security, disease pandemics, external influence, and legal and ethical accountability.

Participants include representatives of the African Union, East African Community, East African Standby Force, IGAD, North African Regional Capability and ECOWAS. Force commanders from missions including the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei are also attending. Countries that confirmed participation ahead of the opening include Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mali, Djibouti and Comoros, among others.

Col. Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information, addressed the media on the sidelines, outlining Uganda’s experience in peace support, counter-terrorism, border security and civil-military cooperation as relevant to the discussions. He described the gathering as an opportunity for African defence establishments to exchange lessons from operations where forces have performed roles beyond combat.

The conference is expected to strengthen national and regional capacity for non-combat scenarios, deepen defence diplomacy and encourage an African-led approach that places human security at the centre of responses to complex threats. Technical working groups and further sessions are scheduled through 8 October. Speke Resort Munyonyo has previously hosted major regional and international meetings, providing conference facilities suited to multi-country security gatherings.

Organisers have framed the event as the first of its kind focused specifically on military operations other than war at the level of African defence chiefs, reflecting a broader shift toward adaptive responses as conventional and non-traditional threats increasingly overlap across the continent.

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