KAMPALA — Uganda will next week host the inaugural conference on Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), bringing together Chiefs of Defence Forces from 14 African countries, peace support mission commanders and representatives of continental and regional security organisations.
The four-day conference, organised by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), will be held at Speke Resort Munyonyo from October 5 to 8, 2026.
According to Col. Chris Magezi, Acting Director Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF, the conference will be hosted by Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Col. Magezi said the meeting will provide a platform for African military and regional security leaders to examine emerging threats that increasingly require responses beyond conventional military operations.
“The conference will focus on a broad range of contemporary security challenges, including transnational threats, cyber security and artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, peace support operations and gender mainstreaming,” Col. Magezi said in a statement issued Thursday.
Other issues on the agenda include climate change, disaster management, natural resources management, military support to civil authorities, maritime and border security, space and environmental security, critical infrastructure, disease pandemics, external influence, as well as legal and ethical accountability.
Countries that have so far confirmed participation include Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Regional and continental organisations expected at the conference include the African Union (AU), East African Standby Force (EASF), East African Community (EAC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), North African Regional Capability (NARC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.
Commanders of major peace support missions are also expected to participate, including those from AUSSOM in Somalia, MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNISFA in Abyei, South Sudan, and UNMISS in Juba, South Sudan.
Col. Magezi said additional countries and organisations were expected to confirm their participation ahead of the conference.
He said Uganda’s approach to the conference would reflect its experience in peace support operations, counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, border security, disaster response and civil-military cooperation.
“Uganda’s position on the key conference themes reflects its dual role as the host country and a nation with significant expertise in peace support operations, counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, border security, disaster response and civil-military cooperation,” he said.
Col. Magezi added that Africa’s emerging security challenges require a broader response involving government institutions and society rather than relying solely on military force.
“The fundamental assertion is that Africa’s emerging security threats cannot be mitigated solely through military force, but through the employment of a whole-of-society and government approach,” he said.
He said Uganda was committed to promoting an African, preventive, cooperative and human-security-focused approach to Military Operations Other Than War.
The conference comes as African countries continue to confront complex security challenges that cut across traditional military threats, including terrorism, cyber threats, climate-related disasters, pandemics, border insecurity and threats to critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Gen. Muhoozi on Thursday held a final planning meeting with members of the strategic and technical committees preparing for the conference at the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe.
The meeting reviewed preparations for the four-day gathering, which is expected to bring together senior military commanders and regional security stakeholders from across Africa.
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