Chief Executive Officers of Military Industrial Facilities from member states of the East African Community (EAC) convened in Kigali for a three-day meeting from 10–12 March 2026 to review progress on the operationalization of defence facilities offered for shared utilization.

The meeting is being held pursuant to Article 2 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs and in accordance with the EAC Defence Sector Calendar of Activities for the period January–June 2026.

While opening the meeting, Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa, Director General of International Military Cooperation at the Ministry of Defence, Rwanda, noted that the gathering reflects the collective commitment of EAC defence institutions to strengthening cooperation within the defence sector and enhancing the region’s security capabilities.

He highlighted that military industrial facilities play a critical role in enabling armed forces to operate effectively by providing reliable access to essential equipment, maintenance services, and technical capabilities. He further noted that defence industries contribute significantly to economic growth, industrial development, job creation, and technological advancement.
“For the East African Community, cooperation in this domain presents significant opportunities. Through the shared utilization of military industrial facilities, we can optimize our resources, strengthen regional capacity, and promote the exchange of knowledge, skills, and technological expertise,” he said.

Brig Gen Karuretwa further emphasized that Rwanda remains fully committed to working with all EAC Partner States to advance initiatives that promote collective security, innovation, and industrial development across the region.

The Chairperson of the meeting, Eng. James Mutamba from the National Enterprise Corporation of Uganda, expressed optimism about the engagement. He noted that such meetings are essential for strengthening cooperation among EAC member states, enabling them to share available facilities within the region instead of relying on products from abroad. He added that EAC countries have developed specific capabilities in defence manufacturing, making regional cooperation both practical and economically beneficial.

Countries represented at the meeting include Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and the host nation, Rwanda.