US government boosts Uganda's peacekeeping, humanitarian capacity

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Uganda has received a vehicle maintenance facility worth $1.5 million (about sh5.5b), a donation from the United States government.

A boost to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the package enhances the capacity of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capabilities Center (URDC) to support peacekeeping efforts and humanitarian crises.

This advanced facility includes maintenance bays, a fueling station and storage, a vehicle inspection pit, administration buildings, and a security fence - critical resources to support Uganda’s rapid response to crises.

A release from the US mission in Kampala states that this handover builds on the delivery of a second United Nations Level 2 Hospital in October 2024. 

The mobile hospital is designed for rapid deployment and will play a key role in providing medical care during regional peacekeeping and emergency operations, while also supporting the health needs of Ugandan citizens.

"Both of these developments reinforce the US commitment to regional peacekeeping and humanitarian support. With ongoing partnerships like these, the US continues to support Uganda’s efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, ensuring a more secure future for the region," the December 5 release adds.

The African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APPRP) and Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) have been cornerstone programs in the United States’ historical investment in African peacekeeping.

The Kampala mission states that, through these initiatives, the US has strengthened the capacity of African nations, including Uganda, to maintain readiness for rapid peacekeeping deployment, while enhancing the effectiveness of both UN and regional peace operations.

According to the release, nearly two-thirds of all US security cooperation funds in Uganda go to health programs that provide a direct impact for Ugandan citizens, with the rest supporting human rights and legal training as well as humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts.

Uganda is engaged in a number of international peace keeping operations, with the biggest deployment in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).