UN expert group rejects first report on relocating UN base in Entebbe

The United Nations Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions has advised the UN secretary general to reconsider his earlier report on the relocation of some key operation centres across the world.

The UN Entebbe base was one of those that were supposed to be relocated to neighbouring Kenya.

Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Adonia Ayebare told The Nile Post that the  committee advised the secretary general to choose two new centers through member states.

"What it means that for one reason or another they are not satisfied with the first report. And this is not about Entebbe base alone. It is about the whole process of the UN global services delivery model. Entebbe [base] has been cost effective over the years," Ayebare said.

Ayebare said committee also stated that in the process of shifting the management paradigm in the UN all members’ states must be consulted.

"The earlier report that impacted on Entebbe was done by consultants. The committee recommends that member states develop the criteria that will be used to select locations. It also says that existing locations should be considered which is Entebbe and others," he said.

This comes ahead of the November meeting for the members to deliberate on the expert Group committee report and other recommendations.

Yet much as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions considered the report of the Secretary-General, most of the proposals have to be debated and adopted by the member countries.