KAMPALA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Military forces from the East African region, United States and the European Union on Monday began two weeks of a joint military training exercise in eastern Uganda.

Brig. Richard Karemire, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua that the joint Command Post Exercise is aimed at improving their capabilities to respond to regional security threats and enhance peacekeeping operations.

Maj. Gen. Peter Elwelu, the Commander Land Forces, Uganda People's Defense Forces opened the exercise that has attracted troops from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Netherlands, and United States at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Center, in the eastern town of Jinja.

The exercise will include scenarios related to conducting peacekeeping operations under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Uganda and Kenya have deployed peacekeeping troops under AMISOM to help pacify Somalia.