KAMPALA, UGANDA – Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, has reaffirmed his ministry’s unwavering support to the Uganda Council on Foreign Relations (UCFR), a key forum for foreign policy debate.
Speaking at the annual Minister’s address in Kampala, General Abubakhar pledged to maintain the spirit of engagement between the ministry and the UCFR, established in 2016 to bridge the gap between foreign policy stakeholders.
Uganda’s foreign policy, General Abubakhar explained, is guided by principles such as peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law and treaty obligations, and strong belief in multilateralism. He cited the country’s relations with neighboring countries as an example of successful cooperation.
The minister also highlighted Uganda’s open-door refugee policy, hosting over 1.7 million refugees, despite challenges such as insufficient funding. He acknowledged the support of international partners in managing the refugee crisis.
General Abubakhar outlined Uganda’s key foreign policy objectives, including regional integration, promotion of regional peace and stability, African economic integration, and countering international terrorism.
He reflected on Uganda’s achievements, including maintaining excellent relations with neighboring countries, global recognition of its refugee policy, and contributions to peacekeeping and building. However, he also cited challenges such as underfunding and growing regional security threats.
UCFR’s CEO, Ambassador Francis Katana, expressed gratitude to General Abubakhar for his participation, highlighting the organization’s vision to promote foreign policy debate and information sharing.
General Ivan Koreta, UCFR’s chairman, encouraged the audience to register and become members of the council, emphasizing its role in shaping Uganda’s foreign policy.
Uganda’s commitment to strengthening its foreign relations comes amid growing regional and global challenges.
General Abubakhar’s address was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, foreign policy practitioners, media, and academia.
The UCFR serves as a platform for research, foreign policy debate, and intellectual resources for stakeholders.
Discussion about this post