The UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis is undertaking an official visit to Uganda to attend the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Third South Summit of the Group of 77 and China.

Francis is a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago who has served as his country's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York since 2021. 

On 1st June 2023, he was elected to serve as President of the United Nations General Assembly at its 78th session, beginning his term on 5th September 2023. 

The G77, or the “Group of 77,” is a coalition of 135 developing countries dedicated to advancing their economic interests and collective bargaining power within the UN. This strategic alignment serves as a force multiplier for nations sharing common goals. 

NAM, “Non-Aligned Movement,” is a group of 120 nations committed to neutrality in international power blocs. Founded in 1961, NAM is second only to the United Nations in terms of its global reach and influence.

NAM opened from the 15th to the 20th January 2024, at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort. The theme of the NAM summit is: ‘Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence’.

Then from 21st to 23nd January, at the same venue, Uganda will host the Third South Summit organized under the framework of Group 77 and China, a loose alliance of developing countries. 

The theme for the Third Summit is: ‘Leaving no one behind’. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has warmly welcomed Heads of State and Government, Heads of Delegations and all delegates to the summits.

All the summits are being held at the Munyonyo Convention Centre. 

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has jetted in for the summit. 

Okello Oryem the state minister for foreign affairs said 58 ministers attended the ministerial meeting for NAM that opened on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. 

He said that 28 heads of states were expected to attend the NAM summit.