Honourable Jacob Marksons Oboth, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, oversaw the conclusion of the three-day East Africa Community (EAC) meeting of Chief Executive Officers of Military Industrial facilities at Skyz Hotel in Kampala.
During his address, Hon. Oboth urged delegates to capitalize on their countries’ strengths and foster interdependence rather than competition. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in the defence sector, stating, “We can all maintain our independence, but in matters of security and defence products, we can benefit from interdependence. Let us leverage our strengths to support one another instead of competing.”
Highlighting the significance of defence industries in global security and economic development, Hon. Oboth stressed that East Africa should not lag behind in this crucial sector. He noted that while the region possesses abundant resources, the challenge lies in acquiring raw materials for military production. Hon. Oboth pledged to address this issue in relevant forums.
The Chairperson of the meeting, Major General Bernard Waliaula, Director General of Defence National Security Industries in Kenya, described the meeting as productive. Member states provided updates on the progress of establishing defence industries and their plans. Maj Gen Waliaula expressed optimism about achieving self-reliance and reducing production costs through collaboration among member states.
Major General Sabiiti Muzeyi, General Manager of Luwero Industries Limited and host of the meeting, thanked the delegates for their significant turnout. He emphasized the importance of defence discussions and commended political efforts that have facilitated regional growth.
The meeting concluded with the adoption and signing of the meeting report, signaling a commitment to collaboration among Chief Executive Officers of Military Industrial Facilities for shared utilization.
The meeting drew Defence Liaison Officers and Chief Executive Officers of Military Industrial Facilities from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda.
The annual meeting of East African Community Chief Executive Officers of Military Industry Facilities rotates among different East African Community countries, demonstrating the region’s commitment to strengthening defence collaboration.
