Uganda’s Foreign Relations Experts Rally Behind President Museveni, Call For Bold Stand Against Western Interference via Aid & LGBTQ At NAM, G77 Summit

By Gad Masereka

December 16, 2023

As Uganda prepares to host the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference and G-77 Summit in January 2024, foreign relations experts under the umbrella of the Uganda Council on Foreign Relations (UCFR) have called upon President Yoweri Museveni to utilize these international platforms to champion equal opportunities, shared values, and respect for the sovereignty of African nations.

Amid mounting criticism from the Western world, particularly the United States, following the enactment of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Law, the UCFR experts emphasize the importance of President Museveni adopting a stance reminiscent of the late Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who consistently championed the cause of African nations on the global stage.

The experts conveyed their sentiments during a meeting held on December 9, 2023, at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, attended by prominent figures including Pamela Mbabazi, Chairperson of the National Planning Authority, Ambassador Francis Katana, Executive Director of the Uganda Council on Foreign Relations, and Ambassador Odida Philip, Acting Director of Regional/International Partnerships at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr. Kansiime Jerome, an international relations expert, stressed the need for Uganda to take a firm stand against imperialism and Western interference during its three-year NAM chairmanship. The discussions highlighted how Western powers employ economic measures, such as sanctions and selective development support, to exert influence over developing nations.

Mr. Mafabi David, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Duties, criticized the West, particularly the United States, for imposing cultural values under the guise of aid, citing the recent cancellation of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) agreement.

These discussions build upon a dialogue held on November 14, 2023, with the Nordic Africa Institute, exploring the theme “Deepened Cooperation for Shared Affluence: Prospects for Uganda’s Upcoming Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.”

The upcoming NAM and G-77 summits present a crucial opportunity for President Museveni to address key issues, including Uganda and Africa’s foreign-policy interests, guiding the strategic foreign policy direction of NAM members, and strengthening global efforts against transnational terrorism, radicalization, and pandemics.

Scheduled for January 15 to 20, 2024, at Speke Resort Munyonyo Convention Center in Kampala, the NAM Summit will be followed by the 3rd South Summit of the Group of 77 and China (G-77+China). Uganda is set to assume the chairmanship of NAM for three years (2024–2027) and G-77+China for one year (2024-2025). The international community eagerly awaits President Museveni’s address on these critical global issues.