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Presented and edited by Joseph Kizza
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 4:57 PM 

WATCH: 'NAM has a working method'

Bagiire responds to this question from a reporter: "Regarding the issue of most members, they say Palestine [and] Gaza should be the key point that we should look at as NAM right now. As you, the chair, what are your thoughts? As the chair of NAM, not as Uganda."


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 4:46 PM 

WATCH: '93 countries represented'

Bagiire says 93 countries are being represented in Kampala at the NAM Summit.


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 4:35 PM 

WATCH: Senior officials to meet Monday & Tuesday

Uganda's foreign affairs ministry permanent secretary, Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, says the senior officials are meeting today and tomorrow (Tuesday).


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 4:00 PM 

Women in Agribusiness Expo & Investment Summit

In Kigo, a summit focusing on unlocking opportunities for women in agribusiness is under way after the key guests — including gender minister Betty Among, gender state minister Peace Mutuuzo, fisheries state minister Hellen Adoa and technical people from different ministries — taking a tour of exhibition stalls.

The discussions here are on, among several other things, how women can add value to their produce as well as churn out products that are resilient to climate change.
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 3:52 PM 

#KaribuUganda

A reminder that hot on the heels of the NAM Summit will be the G77+China (Third South) Summit, also to be hosted by Kampala.

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 3:32 PM 

Unlocking opportunities for women

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the NAM Summit, the Source of the Nile Women in Agribusiness Expo and Investment Summit is taking place in Kigo.

Here, various women entreprenuers are showcasing their products, with gender and labour minister Betty Amongi being taken on a guided tour of their stalls.

The minister is stopping by different stalls to listen to the stories of the female exhibitors, who are keen to talk about their enterprises, including especially the challenges they face.

Acquisition of machinery to ease processes is on the wish lists of many. Others speak of low production capacity and low funding as some of the challenges they face.

Others wish to expand their respective businesses but they do not have enough skills needed to break into the highly competitive markets.

Transport is also a big problem, one says.
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 3:16 PM 

A view of the venue

An exterior view of the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, the venue of the NAM Summit, immediately after which it will also host the G77+China Summit.

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 2:50 PM 

WATCH: 'NAM established for solidarity'

"NAM was established for justice. NAM was established for solidarity," says Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Permanent Observer to the UN, who is in Kampala attending the NAM Summit.


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 2:15 PM 

💬  '93 countries represented'

"We have 93 countries that are represented out of 120 member states," says foreign affairs ministry PS Bagiire.

"On average, you have three delegates per delegation, but I know for a fact we have received around 350 delegates that have arrived this morning [at the summit]. But as you know, we shall be receiving ministers in a few days' time and then we shall be receiving heads of state in a few days' time."

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 2:12 PM 

💬  'Consensus'

Another reporter asks Bagiire a question that is also related to Palestine.

Q: "Regarding the issue of most members, they say Palestine [and] Gaza should be the key point that we should look at as NAM right now. As you, the chair, what are your thoughts? As the chair of NAM, not as Uganda."

R: "When you chair a meeting, you have to bear in mind that you are a chair and you are an umpire or referee. So we shall be listening to the views of the members and NAM has a working method that prescribes that everything we do must be by consensus. So we expect that if there is consensus that we focus on a certain matter, then so it be. If there is no consensus, then we can't focus on that matter. But so far, we have not subjected the matter of Palestine and Gaza to whether it should be the major topic that we discuss. Once we do, we shall inform members of the public."

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 2:03 PM 

💬  Uganda's key focus area

"Our key focus is, first and foremost, harmonizing and reinforcing collaboration within the movement," says Bagiire when asked by another reporter what Uganda's key focus is at the 19th NAM Summit.

"Uganda will focus on creating cohesion within the movement to ensure that we can work together as a movement for the good of humanity."
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 2:00 PM 

💬  'Premature to discuss Uganda's position on Palestine'

On the question of Palestine matters as asked by a reporter, Bagiire responds thus:

"Uganda is non-aligned and it would be premature to discuss Uganda's position because, as I have said, the session has just started and we are negotiating an outcome document. All those issues are outlined.

"The team is in there discussing the issues and we shall come up with our position."

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 1:55 PM 

💬  What has transpired so far summarized

A little while back, the permanent secretary of Uganda's foreign affairs ministry, Vincent Bagiire Waiswa (pictured below), briefed journalists about what has transpired so far at the summit.

▪️  The 19th NAM Summit kicked off with the senior officials preparatory meeting. The officials are meeting today and Tuesday.

▪️  The meeting opened with an address by the Azerbaijan's foreign affairs minister. Uganda's foreign affairs minister Gen (rtd) Jeje Odongo also addressed the summit.

▪️  Uganda then took over as chair of the NAM at the senior officials level, with Amb. Adonia Ayebare elected the chairman.

▪️  When the plenary session ended, the delegates shifted gears and moved on to the breakaway sessions.

▪️  The session on political affairs is chaired by Amb. Adonia Ayebare since Uganda has now taken over the NAM chairmanship at the level of senior officials.

▪️  The session on economic and social affairs is chaired by Amb. John Leonard Mugerwa.

▪️  The outcomes of the engagements will be communicated later, says Bagiire.
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 1:36 PM 

Generally, today's summit activities are revolving around the consideration of the Draft Kampala Final Document by the two committees: political committee and economic & social affairs committe.
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 1:25 PM 

📸  All roads lead to Munyonyo

Kampala is soaking up international attention, with the 19th NAM Summit under way at the beautiful Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo.

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 12:30 PM 

📸  Opening session in pictures

It has been a well-attended opening session of the 19th NAM Summit here in Uganda's capital Kampala.

New Vision multimedia journalist Eddie Ssejjoba's camera has been busy. Take a look 👇🏽

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 11:15 AM 

Going by what the various delegates have said, the draft final document, in the spirit of co-operation, should be left intact, save for any technical updates.

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 11:06 AM 

'You can always count on Cuba'

In a similar congratulatory tone, Cuba assures Uganda that it can "always count" on its full support.

"Also, our delegation would like to convey our deep appreciation to the people and Government of Uganda for the warm hospitality and the excellent organization of this 19th summit," says their delegate.

Cuba also congratulates Azerbaijan for doing "a very good job".

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 10:58 AM 

'Thank you, Uganda'

Iran also congratulates Uganda for taking on the mantle of NAM chairmanship and "thank the people and Government of Uganda for their very warm hospitality extended to the delegations".

Iran congratulates Azerbaijan for work well done at the helm.

Egypt adds its voice to the other delegations in congratulating Ayebare for his election as chairman of the senior officials preparatory meeting.

The Egyptians also pay glowing tribute to the beautiful country that is Uganda, saying "it is a second home for a lot of us".

While Iran and Egypt agree that the final outcomes document should not be reopened, the issue of Palestine should be addressed.

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 10:46 AM 

'Full support to you'

The Algerian delegation expresses its "full support" to Uganda's chairmanship of the NAM for the next three years.

"We will be by your side in every step in light of this movement," says their representative.

In the same spirit, the Libyan team congratulates Uganda for assuming NAM chairmanship and thank Azerbaijan "for the great work you have been doing during your presidency".

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 10:25 AM 

'Transparency and openness'

"I join my minister in welcoming all of you to Uganda and to Kampala," starts off Amb. Ayebare in his remarks.

"Colleagues, I promise to chair this senior officials preparatory meeting with transparency and openness and I call on you to extend the same support you extended to to our colleagues and friends of Azerbaijan.

"Colleagues, the task before me and senior officials is to adopt the final outcome document and the Kampala Political Declaration," says Ayebare.

Ayebare implores his colleagues "that this document should not be reopened" and that "we should only consider technical updates that have taken place between Baku and Kampala — because colleagues, there is no need to reopen the document".

He says that "our ministers have already agreed on the document and as we deliberate in these two next days, let's bear that in mind".

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 10:16 AM 

Senior officials preparatory committee

Now that the summit is open, the deliberations can start. First up is the adoption of the agenda of today's senior officials preparatory meeting.

There is no objection to the adoption of the agenda, so all goes on as planned. The report of the cordinating bureau of NAM is delivered. The report covers "the substantive and logistical preparations" that were carried out within the framework of the cordinating bureau of NAM for the 19th summit.

The outgoing chair of NAM, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the entire team of cordinating bureau are grateful for the "sincere trust and solidarity that our delegation has enjoyed during our tenure as well as for the constructive spirit and flexibility that our brothers and sisters in the movement have shown throughout these years".

Their representative, Azerbaijan's deputy foreign affairs minister Yalchin Rafiyev, says: "It has been our great honour and privilege to serve at the helm of NAM during these challenging times and we are very proud of the successes and accomplishments that the movement has achieved.

"As we pass the chairmanship to our dear colleagues of the Republic of Uganda, we pledge to them our full support, co-operation and full adherance to the positions and principles of the movement, guided always by the spirit of Bandung and aimed at strengthening of our movement and historical role for the betterment of all mankind," adds Rafiyev.

Meanwhile, Uganda's Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Adonia Ayebare, has been elected — without any objection — as chairman of the senior officials committee.

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 10:07 AM 

Odongo to delegates: 'Explore Uganda'

In his concluding remarks, the Ugandan foreign affairs minster encourages delegates "not to limit yourselves to this conference facility or indeed to Kampala city alone, but also to find time to explore other parts of this country and to enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna that exists in this country and indeed to also enjoy the hospitality of the Ugandan people".

▪️  A sneak peek at Uganda's abundant wildlife

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 10:04 AM 

'Call for collaboration'

Minister Odongo says it is befitting that this year's summit is being held under the theme: Deepening co-operation for shared global affluence'.

"This is indeed a call for co-operation and collaboration within the NAM membership and this, I believe, will be emphasized in the outcome document.

"I am also happy to note that member states have interacted with the Kampala Declaration, which is one of our outcome documents, with a lot of interest."

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 10:02 AM 

 BREAKING 

Minister Odongo opens summit

"NAM remains an important organization and given an increasingly complex international situation, the ten Bandung principles...continue to be as relevant today," says Uganda's foreign affairs minister Gen. (rtd) Jeje Odongo while opening the summit at Speke Resort Convention Centre.

"Today, we are faced with several challenges around the world, including conflict in different parts of our world, food insecurity, migration, unemployment, health pandemics, climate change and terrorism among the many challenges that we face.

"We also recognize challenges in financing development, and the very serious issue of the debt burden that paints a very depressing global economic outlook.

"It is, therefore, crucial for us to address existing, new and emerging issues collectively and in the interest of our membership for the good of mankind."

Odongo adds that "Uganda believes that multilateralism and solidarity are required much more than ever so that we individually prepare and collectively respond to further challenges".

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 9:36 AM 

At this summit, the heads of state and government of the NAM are expected to review the progress achieved in the implementation of the outcomes of the 18th edition in Azerbaijan in 2019.

Between then and now, the coronavirus pandemic came in the way and complicated many global sectors. In fact, because of the pandemic, Azerbaijan accepted to extend its chairmanship for an additional year.

In Baku, the NAM leaders underlined that the global scenario at the time presented great challenges in the areas of peace and security, economic devlopment and social progress, human rights and the rule of law to non-aligned countries.

They affirmed that many new areas of concern and challenges had emerged, particularly the global financial and economic crisis, which warranted the renewal of commitment by the international community to uphold and defend the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and the principles of international law.
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 9:15 AM 

What is in it for Uganda?

As mentioned earlier, Uganda will take on the mantle of NAM chairmanship from Azerbaijan.

As chair, Uganda will be expected to play a significant role in the decision-making process on the global geopolitical table and advance the economic and social objectives of developing countries.

So you may wonder: what is in it for Uganda?

"This is an opportunity for Uganda to showcase its leadership within the NAM and G77+China countries by putting in place an outcome that will depict the relevance of the summits in the world order, considering the changing dynamics after the end of the Cold War," says foreign affairs state minister Henry Okello Oryem.

"This is the time NAM can come out and stand very firmly and show its presence and influence as well as its capacity to be part of the world order."
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 9:15 AM 

'Defend our interests'

"Post-independence, NAM has been used as a forum where we work together as developing countries to defend our interests in the very volatile international systems," says Adonia Ayebare, Uganda's Permanent Representative to the UN, as he appeared on Urban TV's morning show Rush Hour to discuss matters NAM.


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 8:35 AM 

Uganda's chairmanship

Uganda joined the NAM during the second summit in Cairo, Egypt in October 1964 — three years since the founding of the movement and two years since Uganda attained independence from colonial rule.

Nearly six decades on, Uganda is set to take assume chairmanship of NAM from 2024 until 2027. 

During this time, the country's vision for its position at the helm will be: 'A stronger and united NAM that contributes to a better world for all'.

Meanwhile, at this summit, there will be a variety of issues of interest to focus on, including peaceful settlement of disputes, peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations, and terrorism.

Others include sustainable development, unemployment, food security, climate change, healtha and transnational organized crime.
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 8:26 AM 

Expected outcomes

These are the expected outcomes of the 19th NAM Summit:

▪️ Promote Uganda's national interests through the enhanced positive image of the country and the potential economic and commercial benefits that will accrue over the medium to long term

▪️ Promote Uganda's foreign policy objectives, as outlined in the 1995 Constitution, achieved through global diplomacy projection

▪️  Provide a platform to market Uganda's unique tourism and investment opportunities to a larger and wider community of international actors

▪️ Contribute to the country's policy and drive to attract meetings, international conferences and exhibitions (MICE)

▪️  Provide a platform for direct business-to-business interaction and partnerships through the proposed business forum or summit
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 8:17 AM 

19th NAM Summit theme

This latest NAM Summit is themed: Deepening co-operation for shared global affluence.

The last time Uganda hosted a global meeting of such magnitude was in 2007 — Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

At the time, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II visited Kitante Primary School in Kampala on the last day of her state visit.

The Queen's son, Prince Charles (at the time), and his wife Camilla took a ride on River Nile in Jinja. It was Charles's first time in Uganda.

That was 16 years ago. So you would imagine the sort of global attention that Uganda is soaking up now as she hosts another big one.

Uganda's foreign affairs state minister Henry Okello Oryem told New Vision on Sunday that 97 delegates will be coming to Uganda along with their respective delegations of about eight to 10 people.
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 7:45 AM 

The venue is set

Speke Resort Convention Centre set? Check ✔️

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 7:32 AM 

Traffic advisory - expect diversions

An international summit like this one means a lot of preparations for the host nation. And so has been the case for Uganda.

Part of getting ready to host a huge group of visitors is managing how those delegates will be moving around. It has to be smooth. To ensure this, the traffic Police worked out a detailed traffic management plan — which includes anticipated diversions — issued the advisory to the public.

Our graphics team have put it all together for you: 👇🏽

The deputy Police spokesperson, Claire Nabakka, said the diversions and interruptions will be as and when the need arises — such as when a motorcade is expected.

▪️  Check out the detailed traffic advisory here
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 7:17 AM 

📺  On Urban TV: Expectations from NAM

Meanwhile, this morning Uganda's Permanent Representative to the UN, Adonia Ayebare, will be a guest on Vision Group's Urban TV (at 8am) to discuss the expectations from the NAM Summit as part of the Rush Hour morning show.

If you haven't yet, be sure to tune in.

(You can also stream Urban TV live on the Vision Group app, Vision Digital Experience — which is available on Google Play and App Store)

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 7:04 AM 

Speke Resort Convention Centre set

Oh and by the way, after the curtains draw on the NAM Summit, Uganda will not have time to catch her breath because immediately after that meeting, she will also host the G77+China Summit.

Both summits are to be held at the newly built Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo.

The multimillion-dollar facility with a 4,400-seater auditorium also has a multipurpose hall, 12 high-end conference/breakaway meeting rooms, and a floating restaurant that can accommodate 700 to 900 guests.

Check out more here.

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 6:50 AM 

NAM delegates arrive in Uganda

Many of the NAM delegates are flying into the country through Entebbe International Airport.

In the buildup to this week's summit, Sooma Ayub, the director of airports and aviation security at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), said the airport is ready to receive the delegates.

He was also keen to advise departing travellers to arrive at the airport at least three hours in advance due to the ongoing expansion at the facility and expected summit engagements.

Speaking of which, the protocol officials have been patiently waiting to welcome arriving delegates at Entebbe.

Here, this protocol officer is seen explaining to visitors Uganda's tourism attractions.

Meanwhile, the airport has installed the most advanced internet and WiFi, WiFi 6, offering faster and efficient connectivity.

Visitors are to receive SIM cards to maintain connectivity during their stay in Uganda, said ICT and national guidance minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi.

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 6:38 AM 

🇺🇬  Uganda fact file

Right then, 'guess we are on the same page now?

Assuming we are now together, and before I take a brief pause to have a coffee refill on this 15th morning of 2024, here is a brief about the host of the latest NAM Summit:

▪️ The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked East African country that gained independence from the British in 1962, restoring administrative law.

▪️ On the Equator, Uganda is located between latitudes 4°12' N and 1°29' S and longitudes 29°34' E and 35°0' E.

▪️ Uganda is situated between the volcanic mountains at the eastern and western borders

▪️ Its highest mountain is the Margherita Peak (5,119m/16,795ft) in the Rwenzori Mountains.

▪️  Uganda is bordered by Kenya to the east, South Sudan to the north, DR Congo to the west, Rwanda to the southwest and Tanzania to the south.

▪️  Uganda's major lake is Lake Victoria — the largest tropical lake and second largest freshwater lake in the world. Other major lakes are Albert, Kyoga, Edward, George and Bisina

▪️  Uganda has numerous African ethnic groups and a small Asian community. The major ethnic groups are Baganda, Banyankole and Basoga.

▪️ The majority of Uganda's population resides in the central and southern regions, predominantly along lakes Victoria and Albert, with only 25% living in urban areas.

▪️  About 70% of the land in Uganda is used for farming.

|  Speaking of farming, Uganda's best farmers of 2023 were recognized and rewarded with cash prizes and a trip to the Netherlands. Take a look here.

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 6:27 AM 

NAM hosting stats

In case you have a penchant for history, you may want to know that Yugoslavia was the first country to host the NAM Summit. 18 editions later, Uganda is the sixth African country to host the gathering.

Interestingly, this is the earliest in any year (January) that the summit is being held. The majority of the meetings have been held in September (nine).

One of those summits held in the ninth month of the year was the very first one in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, where the host nation's president Josip Broz Tito (pictured below, right) welcomed various leaders and delegates, including Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah.

Here is the list of the host nations of all the 19 NAM summits held in the last 60-plus years:

1st summit: Yugoslavia - September 1961
2nd summit: United Arab Republic (Egypt) - October 1964
3rd summit: Zambia - September 1970
4th summit: Algeria - September 1973
5th summit: Sri Lanka - August 1976
6th summit: Cuba - September 1979
7th summit: India - March 1983
8th summit: Zimbabwe - September 1986
9th summit: Yugoslavia - September 1989
10th summit: Indonesia - September 1992
11th summit: Colombia - October 1995
12th summit: South Africa - August 1998
13th summit: Malaysia - February 2003
14th summit: Cuba - September 2006
15th summit: Egypt - July 2009
16th summit: Iran - August 2012
17th summit: Venezuela - September 2016
18th summit: Azerbaijan - October 2019
19th summit: Uganda - January 2024
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 6:20 AM 

The genesis

Much earlier, before the NAM was the Bandung Conference of April 1955, which was a vital step towards the eventual creation of the NAM.

The week-long conference that took place in the Indonesian city of Bandung was a meeting of Asian and African states (most of which were newly independent) and was intended to promote Afro-Asian economic and cultural co-operaiton and oppose colonialism or neocolonialism.

📸 In the picture below, Chinese Foreign Minister Chou En-Lai addresses the audience during the Bandung conference.

In the final communiqué of the conference, a 10-point declaration "on promotion of world peace and co-operation" was adopted unanimously as item G.

The declaration was called Bandung's Ten Principles or Bandung Spirit or Bandung Ddeclaration.

NAM builds its work on those 10 Bandung principles, which are:

1. Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations

2. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations

3. Recognition of the equality of all races and of the equality of all nations, large and small

4. Abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country

5. Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself, singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations

6. a) Abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defence to serve any particular interests of the big powers
    b) Abstention by any country from exerting pressures on other countries

7. Refraining form acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country

8. Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration, or judicial settlement as well as other peaceful means of the parties' own choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations

9. Promotion of mutual interests and co-operation

10. Respect for justice and international obligations

📸 The picture below from the 1955 Bandung conference shows Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan delegates participating in that meeting.

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 6:13 AM 

First things first...

In case things have been moving too fast, let's play some catch-up.

To begin with, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum that is not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. After the United Nations (UN), it is the largest grouping of states worldwide.

As of October 2019, the organization consists of 120 member states, including the non-UN member state of Palestine, as well as 17 other observer countries and 10 observer organizations.

Drawing on the principles agreed at the Bandung Conference in Indonesia in 1955, the NAM was established in 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia through the initiative of Presidents Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Sukarno (Indonesia) and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), as well as Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

📸  Pictured below is Egyptian president Nasser speaking with his Tunisian counterpart Habib Bourguiba at the 1961 conference in Belgrade.

Meanwhile, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, a founding member of NAM, its membership was suspended in 1992 at the regular ministerial meeting held in New York during the regular annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Approximately, two-thirds of the UN's members are represented at the NAM, and they comprise 55% of the world's population.
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 6:10 AM 

Good morning everyone

Hello and welcome to New Vision's text coverage of the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which gets under way today (Monday) in Uganda's capital Kampala.

In the coming days, you would bet there will be a lot to write about this long-awaited event — and digest in equal measure. Right here on this page, we shall do our best to keep you up to the date with developments from the summit. So, stick along.

Along with related stories on our website, you will also be able to get updates on the summit on other Vision Group platforms, including the newspapers (whose electronic versions you can find by clicking this), TVs (Urban TV, Bukedde TV, et al) and radios (XFM, Bukedde Fa Ma, et al).