Nils Wörmer, Director of the KAS RP SIPODI East Africa, opening the academy. In his opening remarks, he underscored the evolving complexity of global affairs and the need for a more nuanced understanding of security challenges

Dr Christian Rieck (left), Associate Professor for Development and Defence at the Chair of War Studies at the University of Potsdam, Dr Julian Voye (top right), Managing Director at Secori and Dr Fredrick Golooba Mutebi (bottom right), political scientist and author, facilitating some of the lectures at the academy

Some of the participants of the academy during the lecture sessions

Participants making policy presentations and receiving their participation certificates at the end of all the sessions

For the second time, RP SIPODI East Africa brought together a group of young academics and experts in the field of international politics, security, and diplomacy in Kampala. The aim of the academy was to provide participants with in-depth knowledge of international and security policy issues, while also enabling them to place East African perspectives within a broader global context. Lectures, workshops, and lively discussions facilitated fruitful collaborative work.

On August 26, Nils Wörmer, Head of RP SIPODI East Africa, officially opened the second KAS Geopolitics Academy (KGA). In his welcome address, he highlighted the geopolitical shifts of recent years and emphasized the growing importance of well-founded security policy knowledge that goes beyond mere regional expertise. The academy was intended to equip young professionals to comprehensively analyse and assess security policy issues. A joint dinner with the KAS SIPODI team on the first evening already provided a valuable exchange of experiences and opportunities for mutual acquaintance.

To contribute their expertise, Dr. Christian E. Rieck, Associate Professor for Development and Defence at the Chair of War Studies at the University of Potsdam, and Dr. Julian Vöje, Managing Director at Secori, travelled from Germany. They were supported by Prof. Kasaija Phillip, Professor of Political Science at Makerere University in Kampala, Dr. Frederick Golooba-Mutebi, political scientist and author, and Angelo Izama, analyst and publicist from Kampala.

Over the course of the week, the group explored issues of international and security policy developments. Dr. Christian Rieck, who led the first day of the academy, addressed topics such as Germany’s global development policy, outlined Germany’s role in the European “Zeitenwende” and provided a comprehensive introduction to drafting policy recommendations.

Dr. Julian Vöje spoke, among other topics, about Russia’s recent attempts to exert influence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Prof. Kasaija Phillip enriched the academy with a lecture on Africa’s foreign policy in the context of globalization, while Angelo Izama examined Middle Eastern strategies toward Africa. In addition, Dr. Zohra Mohamed Omar presented a case study on Djibouti’s significance as a global transport hub in East Africa, which Dr. Golooba-Mutebi followed with a contribution on Rwanda’s pragmatic foreign policy.

All events were marked by lively discussions and intensive exchanges, contributing to new perspectives on current security policy challenges. The second Kampala Geopolitics Academy concluded on August 30 with an event at Kampala’s Kalanoga Resort, during which participants discussed concrete policy recommendations developed throughout the week in working groups and received their certificates.