East Africa brigade formed

Fortunate Ahimbisibwe, New Vision.

Aug 31, 2005 (Entebbe) — Defence chiefs from East Africa are in Uganda to finalise the formation of the Eastern African Standby Brigade (EASBRIG).

Army commander Lt. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the chairman of the EASBRIG committee of chiefs of defence, said the EABRIG would become operational this year.

Aronda was yesterday addressing the 4th Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defence of Staff meeting at Imperial Botanical Hotel, Entebbe.

Army chiefs from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, Sudan and Somalia, representatives from the African Union, IGAD and COMESA are attending the meeting.

“The council of ministers of defence has passed our proposed budget and we are here to put together the working guidelines and other details. We are sure that the brigade will be ready for deployment in a few weeks,” he said. He said the chiefs had completed three quarters of the requirements for the formation of the brigade.

The regional brigades is a step towards the creation of the African army.

“We shall discuss the details of how the brigade will be deployed in conflict areas and other matters concerning the host countries and the composition,” Aronda said.