Uganda to remain UN Center for Peace host - Govt 

There has been no decision to move the UN Regional Service Center, Entebbe by the UN General Assembly, the ministry of foreign affairs has clarified.

"Uganda is not in competition with Kenya. Uganda is not laid back in its bid to permanently host the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, as was reported," a statement issued by the ministry dated March 15, 2018 stated.

The ministry's clarification was in reference to March 12, 2018 media report titled, "Uganda could lose out on hosting UN center for Peace."

In June 2010, Uganda actively engaged with the United Nations Secretariat and UN member states on a proposal by the UN Secretary General for a Global Field Support Strategy (GFSS).

The GFSS outlined a new global approach to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations, in service delivery to field missions and the better use of resources, as well as the timely start-up and deployment of operations.

In July 2010, following a spirited campaign by Uganda, the UN General Assembly authorized the UN to start working on a global and regional approach to delivering services, establishing an initial Regional Service Centre in Entebbe (RSCE). 

The RSCE was established by a resolution of the UN General Assembly as one of the main pillars of the Global Field Support Strategy.  The Government proceeded and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN establishing the Center in Uganda on July 20, 2010.

The goal of the RSCE has been and remains to provide efficient, scalable and client-oriented services for United Nations field Missions in Africa.

It currently provides a full range of administrative, logistics, information and communications technology services to 13 client missions in Africa, representing over 73% of all United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions worldwide.

From its inception, the RSCE has provided services that are not only efficient and effective, but also respond to the needs of its client missions.     

The missions it serves include; the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Others include; the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to the Great Lakes Region, the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group, the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General in Burundi. In addition, from November 2016, the RSCE provides payroll services to seven additional field missions throughout Africa.

Since its establishment the RSCE has grown and expanded with the active support of the Government. The RSCE started with 39 staff in the 2011/12 period, consisting of 62% international staff.

The number of approved posts has steadily increased, and in the current period the RSCE is supported by 427 approved staff, including 134 international staff, 285 national staff and 8 United Nations Volunteers. Over the past four financial periods, the RSCE has undergone a nationalization programme which has resulted in the current balance of 32% international staff to 68% national staff.

The RSCE, originally located in pre-fabricated offices within the Entebbe Support Base, moved into purpose built permanent buildings in 2015 and 2016 valued at over US$6 million which include four office buildings, one technology centre and the regional training and conference centre.

The UN General Assembly during its 69th session under the Ugandan presidency, for the first time gave the RSCE operational and managerial independence and requested the Secretary General to submit a budget proposal for the 2016/2017 period to be charged against missions that the Centre supports.

Subsequently, in the 70th session, in another first, the General Assembly approved a budget of US$39,203,600 for the maintenance of the RSCE for the period  July 1, 2016 to  June 30, 2017.