KAMPALA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Intelligence and security officers from Eastern African countries have gathered in Uganda to discuss better ways of sharing information.
The 5th meeting of intelligence and security heads of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and East African Community kicked off Wednesday in Entebbe, about 40 km south of the capital, Kampala.
General Elly Tumwine, Uganda's minister of security said the meeting provides an opportunity for the chiefs to review the security situation of the Eastern African region, especially pertaining to terrorism, which remains a major threat.
"We need to learn from the countries that have been handling such problems. We shall learn and share information much faster to enable us to defeat these (terrorists) groups which have connections," said Tumwine.
Special Representative of African Union for Somalia Jose Madeira said at the meeting that the launch of the regional East Africa Fusion Centre and Liaison Unit would allow for better information exchange to deal with terrorist groups such as Somali militants, Al Shabaab and Ugandan rebel group Allied Democratic Forces.
The meeting has gathered Intelligence chiefs from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Mauritius, South Sudan, Sudan, Djibouti, Comoros and Madagascar.
The Eastern African region continuously faces such challenges as cyber crime, money laundering, kidnappings and human trafficking, which increased the need to share information.
