Museveni, new UN chief discuss regional security matters

President Yoweri Museveni and the new United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres have engaged in a series of discussions ranging from the security situation in Somalia to South Sudan to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo and pledged to strengthen efforts to develop sustainable peace and development in the region.

The two leaders who were meeting at the sidelines of the 28^th Ordinary Summit of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia agreed on the need for the building of a national political ideology and national army in Somalia, and a need for the leaders in South Sudan to embrace democracy and fight sectarianism for the sake of peace in the newest nation and the importance of dialogue for all stakeholders in Burundi.

The UN Secretary General Antonia Guterres hailed President Yoweri Museveni’s influence and role in ensuring peace and security in the region and for his efforts as mediator in the Burundi conflict to ensure dialogue by all stakeholders.

He pledged to push for reforms at the United Nations as more countries rally to see a more reformed world body.

Uganda used its presidency of the UN General Assembly at the 69^th session to push the African agenda on the reform of the United Nations.

President Museveni said then, that Africa and individual African countries can form credible partnerships beyond the continent’s shores and that reforms as will be agreed by all, will strengthen the United Nations not otherwise.

During the meeting, President Museveni urged the United Nations to help Uganda deal or handle the refugee situation, which is posing growing challenges each day. Uganda is the second largest refugee hosting country after Turkey in the world.

The two leaders agreed to host a solidarity conference on refugees in March with both Uganda and the United Nations as conveners.

President Museveni also urged the United Nations to support Uganda’s efforts on environment reclamation if its to meet SDG 15 of the United Nations development goals to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of the terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.