By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) recently held talks with the Zambian Defence Forces in Uganda to reemphasize Uganda’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.Uganda Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba was represented by Maj Gen Richard Otto, Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security in the meeting that aimed at exploring new avenues for collaboration in regional security and development.
Why Uganda is renewing defence coordination with Zambia
Maj Gen Otto, identified defence diplomacy as a key area for further collaboration, citing President Yoweri Museveni’s vision for a united Africa. Uganda’s renewal of defence partnership with Zambia is intended to shape a continent that is not only peaceful and prosperous, but also assertive on the global stage. According to Maj Otto, the two countries’ experiences spark new collaborations, inspire innovation, and strengthen shared resolve.
In October 2023 UPDF emphasised the importance of robust regional security mechanisms in coordinating and strengthening partnerships between neighbouring militaries. This was while the delegation from Zambian Defence Services was in Uganda on a study tour aimed at enhancing their students’ understanding in the areas of geopolitics, and social and economic dynamics of the region.Uganda from working together with regional states like Zambia, is done to create strategic security to secure both countries and communities because it is only by integrating, that they will be able to have a strong voice, larger market, strong security frameworks, firmer security foundation and thus security.UPDF explained that the importance of strengthening the bilateral Defence Cooperation agreement serves as a legal framework that obliges both countries to collaborate and jointly address shared strategic security concerns.
How different is the renewal of military cooperation is to a previous one
Maj General Otto underscored the potential for continued partnerships between the UPDF and the Zambia Defence Force, particularly through study exchange programmes.Uganda says it was wise for Zambia Defence Force leadership to choose Uganda as a destination for their academic engagement. The Zambian delegation that was led by Col John Buzi Nkojera was encouraged to use the opportunity to explore military policies, build professional relationships, and embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
In 2023, in a bid to tackle trade challenges and strengthen bilateral relations, Uganda and Zambia explored military cooperation. Maj Gen. Jack Bakasumba, the Chief of Staff Land Force, emphasized the significance of integration within the East African Community and highlighted the potential of bilateral agreements to address the current trade issues between the two countries.During a meeting with a delegation from the Zambia Defence Services Command and Staff College, Maj. Gen Bakasumba expressed the importance of robust regional security mechanisms in fostering partnerships between neighbouring militaries.Uganda delivered a security briefing on “Geo-Political Aspects and the Imperative of Regional Integration.” He emphasized the need for integration to strengthen regional security frameworks, establish a larger market, and provide a stronger foundation for mutual security.
Cooperation impact on regional security
Uganda and Zambia’s security cooperation primarily strengthens regional stability by addressing overlapping threats within the East African Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) frameworks, fostering collective action, but also raises sovereignty concerns that can limit cooperation.While not directly impacting “African American countries” (likely meaning countries in the East and Southern African region), this cooperation indirectly benefits all member states by promoting peace, security, and economic development through joint efforts on counterterrorism, border control, and conflict resolution.
Some positive impacts include:
Peacekeeping: Regional- collaboration has helped build and sustain domestic peacekeeping forces, making them more effective in maintaining peace and security within member states. Combating Transnational Crime: Security cooperation provides a framework for joint strategies against cross-border crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering, fostering a more secure environment for citizens and property.
Strengthen Regional Stability: By coordinating security efforts, regional bodies can better address threats and reduce regional conflicts, contributing to overall peace and political stability. Security resolution: Security cooperation allows countries to share information and expertise, leading to more effective solutions for shared security challenges, such as those involving cross-border rebellions or other regional crises.
Dynamics and challenges
One of the major challenges is the tension between the desire for regional cooperation and the commitment to national sovereignty. Countries may be reluctant to cede control over certain security matters to regional bodies. There are significant dynamics in East and Southern African security cooperation, marked by progress in regional integration, but also by challenges including complex geopolitical situations, national interests overriding regional ones, resource competition, and persistent poverty and inequality. The East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) have established frameworks for peace and security, focusing on cross-border crimes and terrorism, though the effectiveness of these initiatives is often questioned.
These dynamics are further complicated by external actors like Russia, the United States (US), and China, who engage in transactional, resource-for-security deals, reshaping regional power dynamics. Geopolitical and Socioeconomic Dynamics- Complex geopolitical and socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, inequality, and deficits in democracy, create persistent instability and hinder security cooperation. The overlap between mineral-rich areas and conflict zones leads to transactional partnerships where security support is exchanged for resource access, often involving external powers. National interests over regional interests-A significant challenge is that national interests frequently drive the security positions of leaders in both regions, rather than prioritizing regional interests.
Cooperation brief
According to Dr. Ngari, David Ngochi Director Research, Innovation and Security Studies, National Defence University – Kenya the idea of multilateral cooperation strategies exists in Africa as portrayed by the pan-African information and intelligence sharing cooperation which was conceived early in 1992 with a concern of growing radicalization and extremism in the region. A comprehensive cooperation has not yet been reached, although, to stop the surge in terrorist activity, there has been a need to cooperate in the sharing and collection of intelligence. Nevertheless, several cooperative organizations on sharing intelligence and information in sub-regions have been formulated on ‘generic’ or ‘loose’ agreements. These include the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), in the year 2002, under the plan of action of the AU high level intergovernmental meeting on prevention and combating of terrorism.
The Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISCA) was established in the year 2005. This is a loose cooperation body. The CISCA officials from the most intelligence services in Africa meet regularly. The AU established an informal intelligence structure, the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) for observation and monitoring of conflict hotspots in the continent. Most of the other informal cooperation in information and intelligence sharing in Africa, are structures that involve mutual police or defence cooperation. Mostly under bilateral agreements such as those between Burkina Faso and Mali (2004), Cote d’Ivoire and Mali (2000), Mali and Guinea (2005) and Benin and Nigeria (2005). Others include the EAC Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EACPCCO), the South Africa Region Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) and the West Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (WAPCCO) with a more similar objective of sharing information and intelligence. The big question now is how can African nations effectively balance regional integration and national sovereignty in security matters, ensuring that collective efforts effectively address transnational threats while respecting diverse national priorities and avoiding external interference or duplicative efforts.
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