East African Community (EAC) Partner States have been urged to tap into their vast natural resources to boost the region's defence industries and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
The call was made during a high-level, two-day Multi-Experts Working Group meeting held in Kampala, aimed at fostering cooperation between EAC nations in extracting and processing key raw materials vital for military production.
Addressing the delegates, Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeeyi, General Manager of Luwero Industries Limited, emphasized the strategic importance of safeguarding essential minerals like iron, copper, and lithium.
These materials are crucial for defence manufacturing, and their sustainable extraction within the region would strengthen military self-sufficiency.
“Countries globally are securing critical minerals for defence purposes to maintain sovereignty and reliable supply chains,” he noted.
Col. Ndeng Mayom Manyang, Defence Liaison Officer for South Sudan, representing the EAC Secretary-General, highlighted that regional collaboration in the defence sector would not only enhance military capabilities but also spur economic growth.
“The defence sector is integral to the EAC’s regional integration, and leveraging local resources will reinforce the backbone of our economies,” he remarked.
Themed “Establishing Legal and Technical Modalities for Co-Owned Raw Materials Processing Industries,” the meeting attracted CEOs of military industries and delegates from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia, and other EAC Partner States.
The gathering discussed the potential of harnessing resources such as cotton, hides, and iron to build a robust defence production infrastructure.
The leaders agreed that regional resource collaboration would be a critical step in strengthening the EAC’s defence capacity, reducing dependency on international suppliers, and fostering a secure, sustainable economic future.