East African Community (EAC) Military and Defence Intelligence leaders have been urged to strengthen collaboration and embrace innovation to effectively respond to a rapidly evolving and complex security environment threatening regional and global stability.
Meeting in Entebbe for a high-level regional security summit, top military intelligence officials from six EAC member states Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and liaison officers identified unity, real-time intelligence sharing, and technology-driven strategies as essential tools to counter cross-border threats including terrorism, cybercrime, extremism, and climate-induced instability.
“Our challenges are interconnected. No country can afford to work in isolation,” said Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, Commander of Land Forces, who represented Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces. “Together, through trust and collaboration, we can build a safer and more stable world.”
Lt Gen Muhanga emphasized that the region is not only facing traditional security threats but also grappling with emerging challenges such as the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI), data breaches, pandemics, and cyberattacks.
“The war against terror cannot be won by individual states. It calls for unity, because regional and global stability demand collective action,” he noted.
He warned that while AI presents immense opportunities for defense and intelligence, it also introduces serious vulnerabilities.
“We are seeing growing concerns over data privacy and security. Many people are exposing sensitive information without even knowing it.”
The call for regional synergy was echoed by Maj Gen Richard Otto, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, who stressed the importance of cross-border coordination.
“The fortunes of our individual states are irrevocably bound to the security of our region,” he said. “This reality compels us to adopt a posture defined by agility, unity, and unwavering resolve.”
Maj Gen Otto urged intelligence agencies to think beyond national borders and to translate strategic dialogue into practical, on-the-ground results. He also highlighted the value of stronger partnerships with the private sector and academic institutions to strengthen intelligence capabilities.
Brig Gen Kirim Mugambi, Head of Kenya’s delegation and chair of the meeting, pushed for a mindset shift, urging participants to view intelligence not just as a state tool, but as a shared regional resource vital to development and peace.
“Intelligence is no longer just about political interests,” he said. “It’s a pillar of regional cooperation that must inform our economic and security planning.”
He called on member states to adopt integrated strategies that enhance both national and joint capacities.
“We need intelligence systems that can respond to threats at all levels—from local insurgencies to international terrorism and climate-related instability.”
The Entebbe meeting marks a continued effort by the EAC to transform military intelligence cooperation into a cohesive and strategic force capable of responding to 21st-century threats.
