The Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE) hosted the Security Council Military Staff Committee (MSC) to a 2-day visit. The purpose of the visit was to familiarize themselves with the work the RSCE does to support peace in Africa.

The Director RSCE, Mr. Paulin Djomo provided an overview of the RSCE support operation and pointed out the benefits of the shared service centre in creating significant cost savings for the organization through consolidation of non-location-based support functions and a high-quality scalable service provision to client missions.

Mr. Djomo also informed the committee that 35% of RSCE business lies with Uniform Personnel Service Line that supports men and women in uniform across 12 client entities. The service line processes benefits and entitlements for the personnel joining peacekeeping missions.

“RSCE is the UN Secretariat flagship shared service centre that provides administrative and operational support for Uniformed Personnel and Military Contingents for the UN. Our geographical location and holistic expertise in all operational areas like Administrative Support, Training and Logistics gives us a unique platform of dependability for all stakeholders” he said.

The committee were also briefed on other aspects of RSCE business pertinent to peacekeeping operations including travel, logistics, procurement, and client services.

While at the RSCE, the committee also visited the UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (UNCAP). UNCAP’s presentation focused on showcasing the role and objectives of the academy in enhancing UN peacekeeping efforts through specialized technology training, outlined its achievements, strategic goals, partnerships, and future needs to support the ongoing and evolving requirements of UN peacekeeping operations.

“UNCAP's critical role is in leveraging technology training to enhance the effectiveness and readiness of UN peacekeepers.  Looking ahead, we emphasize the need for continued support from Member States in terms of funding, equipment, technology trainers, and course material as we further refine our training offerings.” Said Mr. Emmanuel Ngor, Chief Regional Field Technology Services.

Led by the Chief RFTS, Mr. Emmanuel Ngor, the committee took a tour of the UNCAP facility; the Simulated Training Environment (OPSCEN-STE), the Virtual Instructor-Led Training Capability (VILT), Modular Command Centre and participated in the Micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M-UAS) live simulations.  

The MSC were also hosted at the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) headquarters in Mbuya by Major General Silver Kayemba, Military Attaché at Uganda’s Permanent Mission to the UN and Major General Richard ‘Dick’ Olum, Commander of the UPDF forces in Democratic Republic of Congo under the joint Uganda/DRC mission code named Operation Shujaa.

The committee was taken through a detailed presentation on operation Shujaa by Maj. Gen Olum who pointed out that the UPDF receives immense support from partners comprising of the nations represented on the MSC and reported that they had made major strides in achieving the objectives of the operation.

The United Nations MSC is made up of the chiefs of staff of the military branches of the UNSC's permanent members, represented by delegated representatives.

It is the longest standing subsidiary body of the Security Council whose role is to advise and assist the Security Council on all questions relating to the Security Council’s military requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, the employment and command of forces placed at its disposal, the regulation of armaments, and possible disarmament.