NEWS– Uganda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Gen Abubakar Jeje Odong has today morning assumed the Chairmanship of the Non Aligned Movement Foreign Ministers from Azerbaijan during their meeting at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The Meeting of Non Aligned Movement Foreign Ministers is part of the 19th NAM Summit which opened on Monday January 15th and will climax on Saturday Jan 20th 2024 in Kampala when the Presidents and Heads of State from Member Countries meet to deliberate on their next agenda.
According to a statement issued today morning, the Republic of South Sudan has also been adopted as a new member of Non aligned movement member States which brings the total number to 121.
South Sudan membership will officially be announced by the Presidents and Heads of State when they convene later this week at the same venue.
Meanwhile the Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs has recommended the provision of a budget line worth Ugx 6 billion to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to cater for post-summit Non-Aligned Movement and G77+China activities respectively, for the next three years.
This was brought before the Committee on Budget yesterday 16th January 2024, while presenting a report on the 2024/2025 National Budget Framework Paper for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Uganda’s Foreign Missions.
The committee’s Deputy Chairperson, Hon Fred Opolot, told Members of Parliament on the Budget Committee that no funds were provided for post-summit activities, albeit that Uganda’s Foreign Policy is implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hon Opolot noted that the secretariats in charge of the Non-Aligned Movement will be charged with hosting and participating in meetings at diplomatic and technical levels, and preparing documents in line with the outcome document among others.
He added that part of the post-summit activities include travelling inland and abroad to participate in extraordinary sessions of the Council of Foreign Ministers, international conferences on environment, human rights, trade and disarmament; all in Uganda’s capacity as the Chair of Non Aligned Movement for the next three years.
Sheema Municipality Hon Dickson Kateshumbwa however questioned why the said activities were not provided for in the current budget yet the Non Aligned Movement and G77+China events are already on going and Bukanga County Member of Parliament Hon Stephen Kangwagye asked why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ought to receive funds to monitor post NAM summit activities yet the organisation of the January summits was handled by the Office of the President.
But Hon Opolot emphasised provision of the annual budgets requirement meant for payment of subscriptions to international organisations giving priority to settlement of international subscriptions in order to protect Uganda’s image abroad and safeguard its interests.
