By Brian Mugenyi
KAMPALA, UGANDA — Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Chief Coordinator, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho (popularly known as Salim Saleh), has underscored the crucial link between national security and economic stability, urging African military leaders to adapt to non-conventional security threats while safeguarding household wealth.
Speaking via video link during the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Forces Conference on Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) in Kampala, Gen. Saleh emphasized that sustainable national stability under a peaceful government relies heavily on continuous economic development.
The four-day continental summit convened African defence chiefs and security strategists to address security threats beyond traditional warfare—including terrorism, transnational organized crime, cyber threats, climate-induced emergencies, pandemics, and natural disasters.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Adaptive Non-Combative Military Response to Emerging Complex Security Threats in Africa,” the conference carried a overarching directive: One Continent. One Vision. One Secure Future.
A New Security Landscape Across Africa
For decades, military readiness focused primarily on territorial defence and conventional armed conflict. However, modern security challenges across the continent have evolved into complex, non-linear threats:
- Cross-Border Networks: Terrorist groups and organized crime syndicates bypass regional borders.
- Digital Infrastructure Risks: Cyberattacks pose growing risks to national institutions and infrastructure.
- Environmental & Public Health Crises: Climate shocks and disease outbreaks frequently displace communities and strain state capacity.
The Kampala conference challenged African defence institutions to build flexible capabilities to support civil authorities during emergencies while operating within established legal frameworks.
Gen. Saleh: Security Must Drive Household Prosperity
In his address, Gen. Saleh highlighted Uganda’s integrated approach to security and socio-economic transformation.
“Our approach to security must also consider the economic wellbeing of our people,” Gen. Saleh stated. “A secure country is one where communities are able to produce, earn incomes, and build resilient households.”
He pointed to initiatives such as Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), which has mobilized rural communities toward commercial agriculture, value addition, and household income generation. This model views economic resilience as a key pillar of national security—shielding ordinary citizens from social and economic vulnerability.
Kirabira Welcomes Focus on Development Security
Reiterating Gen. Saleh’s message, Edison Kirabira, the Civil Coordinator for Operation Wealth Creation (Greater Kampala Metropolitan area), noted that the intervention comes at a critical juncture for Africa.
“The message of Gen. Salim Saleh has come at the right time,” Kirabira said. “As Uganda and Africa continue strengthening their security measures, we must also remember that development and security move together.”
Kirabira stressed that security measures are essential to protecting investments, enterprise projects, and land rights for everyday producers. He praised Gen. Saleh for supporting local land management committees and reinforcing security around OWC initiatives, noting that securing land assets prevents conflicts and encourages long-term agricultural production.
Expanding the Role of Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW)
The conference highlighted the expanding role of armed forces in non-combat scenarios, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, peace-support operations, and civil defense.
Delegates emphasized that modern security responses require:
- Inter-Agency Coordination: Seamless collaboration between military institutions, civil authorities, and local communities.
- Regional Intelligence Sharing: Joint efforts to tackle cross-border threats like cybercrime, human trafficking, and food insecurity.
- Institutional Accountability: Clear mandates to maintain public trust during civil support operations.
Looking Ahead
As defence leaders conclude their sessions in Kampala, the takeaway remains clear: security cannot be measured by military power alone. True resilience lies in building stable, economically empowered communities capable of weathering external shocks.
By linking military readiness with socio-economic protection, Uganda’s strategy offers a key lesson for the continent: securing Africa’s future requires safeguarding both its borders and the livelihoods of its people.
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