Parliament has paid tribute to President Kaguta Museveni for the Visionary Leadership for Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in safeguarding the peace and security of Northern Region; Acholi, Lango, West Nile and Karamoja.

Dan Kimosho (Kazo County) while presenting the motion cited that Lord’s Resistance Army conflict in the Northern Region between 1986-2007 which he says occasioned humanitarian crisis, and wide spread human rights violations, such as death of thousands of civilians, abductions of children, rape, mutilations, displacement of civilians, torture, slavery, use of children’s soldiers and mass destruction of property but the Army, through the visionary leadership of Museveni was able to end the conflict.

Kimosho went on to shower President Museveni with praises arguing, “General Museveni facilitated and supported initiatives aimed at the reintegration of former Lord’s Resistance Army and other rebels, combatants, and abductees into society through programs for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration.”

“The President has strongly championed peace and security within Uganda and neighboring countries like South Sudan. Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo, by continuing to pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army remnants and ensure regional security,” Kimosho further remarked.

Catherine Lamwaka (Omoro DWR) while supporting Kimosho’s motion noted, “The biggest problem that we have right now as we celebrate the peace that has been ushered in, is managing the peace.”

However, Anthony Akol (Kilak North) wondered why Lamwaka failed to point out the post war challenges that Northern Uganda is still grappling with, despite the end of the wars that President Museveni is being praised for combating.

“But at the point when he was talking about how peaceful this area is, I thought that the seconder (Lamwaka) would raise some of the issues that we have in Northern Uganda, after the way, which need to be raised, but the fact that she is concluding without talking about the issue of compensation of the war affected people, where we are talking about lives lost, livestock compensation, we also have to talk about the conflict which is still going on in Apaa,” remarked Akol.

Museveni appreciated the Parliament for acknowledging the work done by UPDF in pacifying the north and says it is because of the ideological orientation of the UPDF, that it accomplished what had eluded past governments.

“I want to thank Parliament for passing a motion, recognizing the work of the UPDF and NRM in pacifying Northern Uganda and pacifying the whole country. What you need to know if you are going to make useful contributions is the ability of UPDF to do what has defied other Governments, because the security of Karamoja wasn’t new at all, it had been there, even in the colonial times. It only got worse after 1979, after the Matheniko, one of the tribes of Karamoja, looted arms in the Karamoja barracks, after the Amin soldiers ran away,” said Museveni.    

Museveni noted that NRM’s strategy was having Health Centre IIIs at the Sub-county because most of the illnesses can be dealt with there. Noting, “Immunization, midwifery, malaria, they can be dealt with there. And you have seen how immunization has helped public health; polio has disappeared, measles has disappeared. The cancer for the girls, if all girls are immunized against uterus cancer (Cervical Cancer), so immunization has worked.”

Addressing the issue of increased street children, Museveni said that huge school charges are the major cause of this. He urged legislators to advocate for free education for all children under the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education.

“I beg all of you, the elites, to support my stance on providing thoroughly free education, particularly in public schools. Educating just 10 students in your constituency is not a sufficient solution. Let’s strive for a broader impact,” said Museveni.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has applauded the Opposition MPs who defied the Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, calling for the boycott regional sittings.

Among revealed that Parliament will take a roll call to establish the MPs that have attended and those that snubbed the sittings.

During the opening session at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu city, Speaker Among emphasized that Gulu is an integral part of Uganda and that there is no justification for some MPs to oppose the sitting, unless they have ulterior motives or are opposed to the well-being of the people of Gulu.

She noted that just as Parliament is typically held in Kololo, Kampala, it can also be convened in Gulu, underscoring the importance of regional sittings in addressing specific regional needs.

“A people-centered parliament must be responsive to the needs of the citizens, or else society will be without effective parliamentary representation. The 11^th Parliament, right from inception in 2021, vowed to put the people at the centre of the legislative process and its decisions. That is why we are taking Parliament to the people. We have brought parliament to the people; we don’t want people to come to parliament,” she said.

Shs termed individuals opposed to the regional sittings outside Kampala as selfish and don’t love the Northern Region because the constitution gives her powers to proclaim parliament to hold sittings anywhere in Uganda, including the middle of Kampala Road.

“And where Parliament is, is where the Speaker is and where the Speaker proclaims, and this will be Parliament. So, this perception of saying that Parliament must always sit in Kampala is being selfish. The next time, we can even proclaim the middle of Kampala Road to be part of Parliament,” Among said.

Among has asked the people of Gulu not to be misled by some opposition MPs who are boycotting the parliamentary regional sittings in the regions.

Speaker Among assured the public that the regional sittings will continue, with or without the participation of some opposition MPs who are prioritizing their own interests.

This comes after Ssenyonyi urged his colleagues to boycott the sitting, claiming it was a waste of taxpayers’ money.

However, several opposition MPs, including Bukomansimbi district woman MP Veronica Nanyondo, Njeru Municipality MP Jimmy Lwanga, Bukoto south MP Twaha Kagabo, Kawempe South MP Bashir Kazibwe Mbazira, and Abedi Bwanika of Kimanya Kabonera from the National Unity Platform (NUP), have defied Ssenyonyi’s call and are attending the sitting.

Others are Buikwe South Lulume Bayiga and Richard Lumu Mityana South MP from the Democratic Party-DP, as well as MPs from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), are also participating in the sitting, demonstrating a split within the opposition ranks on this issue.

Among has asked the people of Greater North not to vote for any of the current MPs back to Parliament in 2026 if any of them boycott the Northern Regional Parliament sitting.

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General Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has urged Ugandan Ambassadors and Heads of Missions abroad to align the Ministry’s work with Uganda’s National Development framework, including Vision 2040 and the Third National Development Plan.

Speaking at the opening of the Ambassadors’ Conference running from August 26 – 30, 2024, Gen. Odongo emphasized the need for Uganda’s foreign policy to drive economic growth and regional integration.

The conference, held at the Civil Service College in Jinja, aims to achieve several objectives, including enhancing performance and innovation among missions, and facilitating peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.

The Ministry has adopted various interventions to achieve these objectives, including promoting regional and international peace and security, enhancing bilateral relations, and engaging with stakeholders.

“If Uganda’s Foreign Service delivers on the objectives of the different national priorities, programmes and objectives, we shall have played a very important historic role in the transformation of our country,” Gen Odongo said. “We must ensure that our foreign policy work contributes to the realization of our national development aspirations,” Gen. Odongo said.

The Minister highlighted economic and commercial diplomacy as key drivers of Uganda’s development, stressing the need for ambassadors to promote value addition, industrialization, and trade.

“Economic and commercial diplomacy has taken center stage in our foreign policy work,” he noted adding, “We must leverage our diplomatic presence abroad to attract investment, technology, and expertise that can drive Uganda’s economic transformation.”

He also stressed the importance of regional cooperation and integration, citing the East African Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area as key frameworks for promoting inter and intra-Africa trade.

“We believe these are important and strategic pillars for Uganda’s national development,” Gen. Odongo said.

“At the level of regional cooperation, the East African Community remains the main entity… For the rest of Africa, the African Continental Free Trade Area provides a framework for continent-wide trade cooperation.”

Gen Odongo also tackled the pressing challenges to regional peace and security, including the ongoing armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and The Sudan, as well as the lingering political differences in South Sudan. He underscored the imperative for Uganda to remain at the forefront of promoting peace and security in the region, leveraging its experience and influence to foster stability and cooperation.

“The situation in Somalia remains fragile in terms of peace, as the Al-Shabab is not entirely defeated,” the Minister noted.

“It is important that we pay close attention to the ATMIS draw-down, and whatever post-ATMIS transition arrangements will be put in place. Our interest, as a country that made the ultimate sacrifice for our brothers and sisters, is to ensure that the gains that have been made are not lost.”

On the issue of human rights and governance, Minister Abubakhar emphasized the need for sustained engagement and dialogue to address concerns and misconceptions.

“We need to have continuous engagement and dialogue to generate better appreciation on some of the situations causing discomfort to our partners,” he said, highlighting the importance of open communication in navigating complex issues and strengthening partnerships.

Permanent Secretary Bagiire Vincent Waiswa highlighted the need for effective and efficient approaches to promote economic and commercial diplomacy, particularly in areas such as agro-industrialization, tourism promotion, mineral development, and science and technology (ATMs).

Bagiire re-echoed the importance of mobilizing Ugandans in the diaspora for national development and promoting international law and commitments.

“We need to have a concerted effort to attract investors, eliminate non-tariff barriers, and enhance trade relations,” he said.

“The Ministry has participated in coordinating and mobilizing grants for national development, including the Chinese Government grant of US$5.3 million to finance the MoFA Extension building project.”

Waiswa commended some Heads of Mission for heeding guidance on effective service delivery but expressed concern over others who have disregarded official guidance, leading to acrimonious situations.

 “Leadership of a Mission is by the Head of Mission, but it’s impossible for them to succeed if they hold others in their team with little or no regard,” he said.

He added, “I urge you to always acquaint yourselves with the Public Finance Management Act (2015) as you seek to guide Accounting Officers about their duties.”

The Conference will also assess Mission performance and innovation, with awards for top performers.

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