Uganda is set to host the inaugural conference on Military Operations Other Than War from October 5 to 8, 2026, at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The four-day conference, organized by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, will bring together Chiefs of Defence Forces from 14 African countries. These countries include Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The conference aims to address emerging security challenges and the evolving role of military forces beyond conventional warfare.
The conference will focus on several key areas, including transnational threats, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, and peace support operations. Other topics to be discussed include gender mainstreaming, climate change, disaster management, and natural resources management. Participants will also examine military support to civil authorities, maritime and border security, space and environmental security, critical infrastructure protection, disease pandemics, external influence, as well as legal and ethical accountability. The discussions will be crucial in shaping the future of military operations in Africa.
Various regional and continental organizations have confirmed their participation in the conference, including the African Union, East African Standby Force, East African Community, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, North African Regional Capability, and the Economic Community of West African States Commission. Additionally, commanders of several peacekeeping missions, such as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, will also attend.
Uganda’s approach to the conference is informed by its experience in peace support operations, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, border security, disaster response, and civil-military cooperation. The country is advocating for an African, preventive, and cooperative approach to Military Operations Other Than War. This approach emphasizes that emerging security threats require coordinated action involving government and society beyond the use of military force.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, recently held a final planning meeting with members of the strategic and technical committees at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe. The meeting was a crucial step in the preparations for the conference, ensuring that all logistical and organizational aspects are in place.
The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs has confirmed that further confirmations from invited countries and organizations are expected. The conference presents a significant opportunity for Uganda to share its expertise and collaborate with other African countries and international organizations on matters of security and defense. It also underscores Uganda’s commitment to regional and continental security.
The inaugural conference on Military Operations Other Than War is a critical initiative that highlights the changing nature of security threats in Africa and the need for a coordinated response. By bringing together key stakeholders, the conference aims to foster a deeper understanding of the issues at hand and promote cooperation among African countries and international organizations.
Key points
- The conference will focus on emerging security challenges and the changing role of military forces beyond conventional warfare.
- Uganda is advocating for an African, preventive and cooperative approach to Military Operations Other Than War.
- The conference has attracted participation from 14 African countries and various continental and regional security organizations.
