Counter-Terrorism Tabletop Exercise in Uganda
On 11 April 2024, the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility, a joint initiative of the European Union and the United Nations implemented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), conducted a counter-terrorism tabletop exercise (TTX) in Kampala to help reinforce coordination and collaboration between Ugandan investigators and prosecutors for an effective, rule-of-law based criminal justice response to terrorism in accordance with relevant international law norms and standards.
The exercise brought together 16 senior and mid-level officials from the Counter-Terrorism Directorate and the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Uganda Police Force, and from the International Crimes Department and the Directorate of Forensics the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Republic of Uganda, to navigate complex investigative and judicial challenges with the goal of ensuring seamless cooperation.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in evolving scenarios that replicated the pressures and demands of a mock terrorism-related incident inspired by real events. The TTX included dynamic sessions in which Ugandan investigators and prosecutors applied theoretical knowledge to concrete challenges, highlighting the need for effective communication and the unification of efforts among agencies involved in counter-terrorism.
In addition to reinforcing operational coordination, the TTX placed a strong emphasis on the practical integration of human rights and gender considerations in the criminal justice response to terrorism. This critical dimension of the exercise underscored the importance of adherence to international human rights standards to strengthen the rule of law and foster trust in the justice system, which is essential for the long-term success of counter-terrorism strategies.
The exercise is part of a broader technical assistance package generously funded by the European Union through the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice response to terrorism in Uganda, addressing recommendations from the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee following the assessment visit conducted by its Executive Directorate to Uganda in 2019.
