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OPINION

By Akello Beatrice Akori

Uganda is starting this week with high-profile international meetings. The 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit is opening this morning at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo guided by the theme: Deepening Co-operation for Shared Global Affluence.

The NAM summit is made up of 120 member states bound together by the need to keep away from bi-polar geopolitics of nuclear powers. It was established in 1961, in Belgrade Yugoslavia.

Just before the NAM summit, the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC 2024) has just successfully concluded at same venue. CSPOC was from January 3-6, 2024.

Immediately after NAM, the Group of 77 and China (G77+ China 2024) summit will be at the same venue under the theme: Leaving no one behind.

January 2024 has indeed started with a lot of international exposure for Uganda.

The major objectives of NAM include promoting co-operation and mutual interest, enhancing territorial integrity and sovereignty and strengthening respect for justice and international obligations.

The G77 + China, which was established in 1964, constitutes the second largest important forum only surpassed in size by United Nations (UN). The G77 + China is composed of 134 countries. Its aim is to harmonise their views on global economic issues and to strengthen their strategies for negotiations with developed countries.

The NAM summit will, therefore, convene representatives from 120 member states and dignitaries from a wealth of different backgrounds in the Pearl of Africa for five consecutive days to discuss a wide range of issues as guided by the “Ten Bandung Principles”.

Uganda hosting both the NAM and G77+China summits will provide the country with an opportunity to showcase its unwavering commitment to fostering international co-operation. It will also create visibility to Uganda’s economic potential, tourism and cultural richness as well as its strategic importance.

As citizens, we should be able to embrace these conferences since they will provide economic benefits that will eventually trickle down to the common person through the following ways;

1. Strategic alliances that will in turn open doors for increased trade, investment, and diplomatic support, contributing significantly to Uganda’s economic development and regional stability.
2. Creating platforms for tackling pressing global issues such as climate change, economic inequality, unemployment and social justice, which greatly affect the citizenry. Uganda will be able to actively contribute to solutions and advocate policies aligned with its national interests since henceforth it will be the chair of these summits
   
   
3. The foreign dignitaries, delegates and media who will attend these summits will boost Uganda’s economy majorly through the hospitality sector, including hotels and restaurants, which will in turn provide a market for agricultural products, crafts and transportation services among others.
   
   
4. These summits can attract foreign investors to explore business opportunities in the country and eventually create jobs for our people.
   
   
5. Delegates and visitors from participating countries will enhance Uganda’s tourism industry, attracting visitors even after the conferences for the opportunity to explore Uganda’s rich traditions, diverse landscapes, and vibrant communities.
   
   
6. In preparation for these summits, Uganda has been able to work on some critical infrastructure and build institutional capacity and logistics to be able to manage them effectively, which will remain even after the conference.

Therefore, I urge my fellow Ugandans to support these conferences and position themselves to tap into the opportunities created by them through the provision of goods and services. For God and my country.

The writer is the Minister of State in the Office of the President in charge of Economic Monitoring