A contingent of 375 personnel from Rwanda Defence Force, Rwanda National Police and civilians led by Brig Gen Aloys Muganga is in Kenya to participate in a two-week Regional Field Training Exercise.

The training, codenamed "Ushirikiano Imara,” was officially opened yesterday by Kenya Defence Cabinet Secretary, Amb. Raychelle Omamo, at the Kenya School of Government, Matuga in Kwale County, Mombasa.

Omamo stressed the importance of cooperation of East African militaries in maintaining peace, and security and enhancing prosperity.

She said the exercise provides a perfect opportunity for the East African Community (EAC) partner states militaries to interact and exchange skills and knowledge that will eventually enhance capabilities of the forces.

"The aim of this exercise is to enable military and other key stakeholders drawn from EAC Partner States to practice the planning and conduct of peace support operations, disaster management, counter terrorism and counter piracy. The training is meant to enhance participants’ capacity in collectively addressing the emerging complex security challenges confronting our region,” Omamo said.

She commended EAC governments and defence chiefs for facilitating their respective military contingents through initiating, coordinating and supporting such a noble exercise.

Peter Kibuta, who represented the EAC Secretary-General at the occasion, noted that the exercise is conducted in line with the EAC protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs.

"It is in line with a series of joint training exercises conducted on a rotational basis in EAC Partner States,” he said.

Rwanda hosted similar exercises in 2011 and 2012 at RDF Command and Staff College in Musanze and Rwanda Military Academy Gako, respectively.

The Vice Chief of Kenya Defence Forces, Lt Gen Joseph Kasaon, acknowledged the importance of the exercise, saying it promotes continuous training of East African militaries to enhance inter-operability between the forces and other stakeholders.

After the opening ceremony, Rwanda Air Force Chief of Staff, Brig Gen Charles Karamba, who represented RDF Chief of Defence Staff at the official opening ceremony, met the Rwandan contingent at their camp at Madibwani in Mombasa.

After touring the camp, Gen Karamba congratulated the contingent for a job well done, especially in their preparations and camp layout.

He urged them to uphold RDF values, ethics and keep in mind that the military is about culture, planning and execution.

The regional multidimensional exercise, that started on November 7 with exercise clinic and preparations, brings together close to 2000 personnel (military, police and civilians), from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania.

It will close on November 18.

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