Uganda Briefs Diplomatic Corps Ahead Of African Chiefs Of Defence Forces Conference

What the report says

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Maj. Gen. Richard Otto, has briefed members of the diplomatic corps in Kampala ahead of an African defence conference due to take place from 5 to 8 October 2026. According to Watchdog Uganda, the meeting is linked to the upcoming African Chiefs of Defence Forces Conference on Military Operations Other Than War, which Uganda will host at the Chieftaincy of Defence Intelligence and Security in Mbuya.

Maj. Gen. Otto said the purpose of the briefing was to inform diplomats about the event and outline its focus. The conference is expected to gather chiefs of defence forces from African states, officials from the African Union peace and security structures, representatives of regional organizations, and commanders involved in UN and AU peace support missions on the continent.

The report says Otto framed the conference as a response to a changing security environment, with attention shifting beyond conventional warfare to intrastate conflict and other non-traditional threats. He presented Uganda’s hosting of the event as a way to create a forum for African military and security leaders to exchange experience, discuss practical challenges, and improve coordination on preventive security approaches.

Watchdog Uganda reported that the briefing included diplomats and defence attachés accredited to Uganda, along with officials from the UPDF, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The conference matters because it appears designed to strengthen continental cooperation on peace and security, while advancing African-led responses to emerging threats.