By Cyprian Musoke
in Addis Ababa

UGANDA’s peacekeeping role in Somalia has won accolades at the opening of the 7th African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa yesterday.

Speakers praised Uganda and Burundi for their courageous stance in the conflict-torn country, saying they exhibited a selfless spirit of African brotherhood.

Present were foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa, permanent secretary James Mugume and ICT minister Aggrey Awori.

Also present was East African Community deputy secretary general Beatrice Kiraso, former CID chief, now at Interpol, Elizabeth Kutesa and ambassador Wasswa Birigwa.

The theme for the summit is, “Information and communication technologies in Africa”, but issues like peace, security, international justice and human rights dominated discussions of the executive council meeting that comprised foreign affairs ministers.

The heads of state, who will meet next week, will launch 2010 as the year for peace and security in Africa, as per their declaration in August in Tripoli, Libya.

AU Commission chairman Jean Ping urged states that have not honoured their promises for troops to Somalia to do so, saying the Ugandan and Burundian forces were overstretched.