Uganda has taken a leading role in strengthening Africa’s early warning and conflict response systems by hosting a three-day regional training on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Conflict Analysis, bringing together security and policy experts from across the continent.
This is convened in Kampala and it has assembled participants from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, and Comoros. It is part of a continental effort coordinated by the African Union (AU) to enhance regional preparedness against emerging security threats through technology-driven intelligence and collaborative data analysis.
The session was opened on behalf of the Chief of Joint Staff, Brigadier General Abdul Rugumayo, the Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, emphasised that the training underscores Uganda’s commitment to collective peace and stability in the region.
“The complexity of modern conflicts demands that we harness technology and open-source data to anticipate threats before they erupt into crises,” Rugumayo said. “This training is a step towards a more united and informed Africa capable of preventing conflicts rather than merely reacting to them.”
Also in attendance were representatives from the AU Continental Early Warning System, COMESA, IGAD, ECOWAS and the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), reflecting the growing momentum for continental collaboration in security intelligence.
AU Situation Room Coordinator Orit Ibrahim noted that the integration of OSINT into conflict analysis will be critical in addressing cross-border threats such as insurgencies, misinformation, cyberattacks, and climate-induced insecurity.
“Open-Source Intelligence gives analysts the power to detect, verify and respond faster to signs of instability. Our goal is to turn information into early action,” Ibrahim remarked.
Throughout the three days, participants are being equipped with skills in data verification, geolocation, horizon scanning, misinformation tracking, and digital analysis tools that feed into early-warning platforms used by national and regional institutions. The training also promotes a shift from working in isolated systems to building a shared intelligence network that connects analysts, situation rooms, and policymakers across borders.
Officials said the initiative is part of the AU’s broader strategy to operationalise Africa’s conflict prevention architecture, enabling member states to better anticipate and respond to crises through real-time intelligence sharing.
The training, hosted by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in collaboration with the AU, comes at a time when the region faces growing instability from political transitions, resource-based conflicts, and information manipulation. By improving open-source intelligence capacity, countries are expected to enhance not only national security but also community-level protection mechanisms through data-driven insights.
In concluding remarks, organisers expressed optimism that the outcomes from the training would feed directly into regional decision-making systems and help strengthen coordination among member states.
As Africa continues to confront complex and rapidly evolving security challenges, Uganda’s leadership in convening such platforms signals a continental shift towards smarter, collaborative, and preventive approaches to peace and security.