Rwanda’s delegation to this year’s 9th East African Community (EAC) Military Games due to be held in Uganda, departs today by road ahead of the games scheduled for August 16-27 in Kampala, Mukono and Jinja.

The two-week event is expected to be launched by Ugandan President and the Commander-in–Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni under the theme ‘One People, One Destiny through EAC Military Games and Cultural Event 2015’ at Mandela National Stadium, Nambole.

Rwanda will compete in five disciplines which include; football, basketball, handball, netball, and athletics.

APR’s Albert Ngaboyisibo, Yves Rwigema, Yves Kimenyi, Eric Rutanga, Abdul Rwatubyaye, Herve Rugwiro, Yannick Mukunzi, Janvier Mutijima, Bernabe Mubumbyi, Eric Nsabimana, Fiston Nyezingabo and Bertrand Iradukunda will feature for Rwanda’s Defence force (RDF) football team.

At last year’s games in Zanzibar, Rwanda’s best performance was in men’s cross country race where Felician Muhitira finished third.

These games are aimed at, among other things, building cohesion and exchange of culture among EAC military Institutions, contribute to confidence building and nurturing a spirit of sportsmanship among the EAC Defense Forces.

Participating countries include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Zanzibar.The competitions will be held at Mandela National Stadium, Lugogo and Mukono while the cross-country event will take place in Jinja.

The Military Games and Culture Event are held within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Defense, which was signed in 1998 and revised in 2001.

The first EAC Military Games and Cultural Event was held in Uganda in 2005, the second was in Kenya, the third in Tanzania, Uganda hosted the fourth edition in 2008.

The fifth was hosted in Rwanda, Burundi hosted the sixth edition, the 7th edition was in Kenya while Zanzibar staged the 8th edition last year.

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