Uganda will next week host a four-day continental conference on Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), bringing together defence chiefs, peace support commanders and regional security organisations to discuss emerging threats facing Africa.
The conference, organised by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs together with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), will be held at Speke Resort Munyonyo from October 5 to 8, 2026.
According to a statement issued by UPDF Acting Director of Defence Public Information Col Chris Magezi on Thursday, Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba will host Chiefs of Defence Forces from 14 African countries.
“The Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba will next week host Chiefs of Defence Forces from 14 African countries, commanders of peace support missions on the continent, representatives from the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), and executives of regional political and economic community organizations,” Magezi said.
Countries that have confirmed participation include Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
The African Union, East African Standby Force, East African Community, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, North African Regional Capability and the Economic Community of West African States Commission are also expected at the meeting.
Magezi said commanders of several peace support missions would also attend, including those serving with AUSSOM in Somalia, MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNISFA in Abyei and the UN mission in Juba.
The four-day meeting will focus on a broad range of security challenges, including transnational threats, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, peace support operations and border security.
Other issues on the agenda include climate change, disaster management, natural resources management, maritime security, space and environmental security, critical infrastructure, disease pandemics, gender mainstreaming and legal and ethical accountability.
Magezi said Uganda would use the conference to promote a broader approach to addressing security challenges beyond conventional military operations.
“Uganda is committed to promoting an African, preventive, cooperative, and human-security-focused approach to Military Operations Other Than War,” he said.
He added that Uganda’s position was informed by its experience in peace support operations, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, border security, disaster response and civil-military cooperation.
“The fundamental assertion is that Africa’s emerging security threats cannot be mitigated solely through military force, but the employment of the whole of society and government approach,” Magezi said.
Gen Muhoozi on Thursday held a final planning meeting with members of the strategic and technical committees at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe as preparations for the conference entered the final stage.