Students that have been attending Maritime Search and Rescue have been urged to strengthen the African cooperation as they put in practice the knowledge acquired from the training.
The Deputy Commander Land Force Maj Gen Sam Kavuma made this call while closing a two weeks training of 25 officers and men of the ten participating countries conducted at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel Entebbe.
The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF)Maritime Search and Rescue course has been ongoing from 23rd Sep 2019 with participants from Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles,Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.
The Deputy Commander complemented the continued financial and advisory support from the Nordic Advisory Coordination Staff (NACS ) who were the sponsors and also thanked the government of Uganda for the good working relationship and accepting to host this year’s Eastern Africa Standby Force Exercise.
Gen Kavuma congratulated the trainees upon completing the course successfully which he said was as a result of determination and commitment.
He also applauded the instructors for the good job citing that if it was not for their willingness and love for the assignment, the students would have missed out on the knowledge that was imparted on them.
Gen Kavuma further said that the course will help the officers during peace support missions and also while dealing with other maritime threats in their countries. He added that the training should help them to strengthen inter africa cooperation to provide security for the people.
The Head of Peace Support Operations Department at EASF Hqs Brig Gen Henry Isoke who represented the Director, appreciated the UPDF and government of Uganda for the continued support in the development of Eastern Africa Standby Force capacity.
He said it is only from such support by member states that EASF will be able to deliver on it’s mandate.
Commander Stefan Silvan on behalf of the NACS complimented the hospitality that was demonstrated during the stay of the trainees in Uganda.
He applauded the UPDF for all the support that made the training a great success.
The closing ceremony was also attended by Lt Col Nuwagaba the Commanding officer 10 Marines who represented the Marines Commander Brig Gen Micheal Nyarwa among others.