Delegates arrive in Uganda for 63rd Annual Session of AALCO

______________________

📍  Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala
🗓️ September 8-12
___________________________

Legal and diplomatic delegates are arriving in Uganda to attend the 63rd Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO), which gets under way on Monday (September 8) and will run until Friday (September 12).

The five-day conference will be held at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Uganda's capital Kampala.

Delegates from more than 47 AALCO member states are expected to attend, and so are representatives from international organizations and legal experts from Asia and Africa.

During the last session in Thailand's capital Bangkok last September, Uganda was confirmed as the vice-chair of the 63rd session, locking in its hosting of this year's meeting, which is only hours away from kicking off.

Notable among the delegates that have jetted into the country is Dr Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol (pictured below R) from the Kingdom of Thailand, the current Secretary-General of AALCO.

As secretary-general, Pinitpuvadol acts on behalf of AALCO in all correspondence, and in the implementation of all decisions taken by the organisation.

He says the contribution of developing countries to International Law, the Rule of Law, and the World Order will always be relevant.

📸 Other arrivals

The current President of AALCO is Suphanvasa Chotikajan Tang from the Kingdom of Thailand. She is also the Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs in Thailand's foreign affairs ministry.

Established nearly seven decades ago following the historic Bandung Conference of 1955, AALCO is an intergovernmental organization that serves as an advisory body to its member states on matters of international law.

It seeks to articulate the shared legal perspectives of Asia and Africa on the global stage.

The organisation promotes international legal co-operation and provides a platform for member states to discuss and influence developments in international law, such as the law of the sea, climate change, cyber security, international trade law, peace and security, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Its permanent headquarters is in New Delhi, India. It has six regional arbitration centres, which are located in Cairo (Egypt), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Lagos (Nigeria), Tehran (Iran), Nairobi (Kenya) and Hong Kong (People's Republic of China).

'Opportunities for Uganda'

"Uganda's selection as host reflects growing international recognition of our commitment to multilateral diplomacy, international law, and South-South co-operation," said Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka in a September 1 statement about the event.

So what is in it for Uganda?

Kiwanuka highlighted the key benefits of hosting this key AALCO event as including boosting the country's global legal profile, promoting legal and policy expertise as well as drawing economic and tourism opportunities.

"Uganda will take a leadership role in shaping international legal dialogue and influence the development of laws that affect global trade, security, and diplomacy from an African perspective," he said.

"The conference will provide opportunities for Ugandan legal professionals, scholars, policymakers, and institutions to engage with global legal trends, building local capacity and broadening perspectives in international law."

The attorney general said the arrival of international delegates will increase hotel occupancy, tourism activity, and local business engagement, which he said will "bring a much-needed boost to the hospitality and service sectors".

"Hosting the conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo, a world-class venue, demonstrates Uganda's capacity to successfully organize high-level international events and highlights the country's potential as a hub for diplomatic engagement," added Kiwanuka.

He also said that as the current chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Uganda is strategically placed to champion issues relevant to developing countries. 

"AALCO offers a complementary platform for furthering regional integration, peace, investment, and legal harmonization."

In a clarion call, Kiwanuka expressed Uganda's commitment to ensuring the success of this important session.

He also urged all Ugandans — particularly those in the legal fraternity, academia, government institutions, and the private sector — to actively engage with and support this event.

"This is not only a legal conference but a national opportunity to strengthen our voice in the global arena and promote Uganda’s long-standing commitment to peace, international cooperation, and sustainable development."