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Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga officially took over as Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) from Brigadier General (Rtd) Paul Kahuria Njema during a handover/takeover ceremony held on 20 May 2026 at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala, Uganda. The ceremony marked the conclusion of Brig Gen (Rtd) Njema’s three-year tenure and the official assumption of office by Brig Gen Rwivanga of Rwanda.

The event was presided over by Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Marksons Oboth, who also serves as Chairperson of the EASF Council of Ministers.
In his remarks, Hon. Oboth commended Brig Gen (Rtd) Njema for his dedicated leadership, noting that his tenure strengthened the institution through improved operational readiness, enhanced governance structures, and prudent financial management.He welcomed the incoming Director, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, and encouraged him to build on the achievements already made by the organisation.
“You are stepping into big shoes. You inherit not only the achievements of the past, but also high expectations and a community committed to working with you in unity, professionalism, and purpose,” he said. Hon. Oboth further urged Brig Gen Rwivanga to draw on Rwanda’s experience in innovation, discipline, and institutional rebuilding to further strengthen EASF operations.

In his farewell remarks, Brig Gen (Rtd) Njema described his tenure as a period marked by collective resilience and regional cooperation in advancing peace and security in Eastern Africa. He noted that under his leadership, the EASF enhanced institutional capacity and operational readiness through improved planning, training, exercises, and coordination among member states.

In his acceptance remarks, Brig Gen Rwivanga pledged to serve the organisation with transparency, professionalism, and accountability. He described his appointment as both an honour and a solemn duty to contribute to the advancement of collective peace and security in the region.

The Eastern Africa Standby Force is a regional organisation mandated to promote peace and security across the Eastern Africa region. It is one of the five regional multidimensional forces under the African Standby Force framework, comprising military, police, and civilian components. EASF is a joint force derived from 10 countries namely Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.