Defence minister, UN special envoy discuss peace strategies for Great Lakes region

Uganda and the UN have discussed various issues pertaining to the UN strategy for peace consolidation, conflict resolution in the Great Lakes region.

The discussion was held between the minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Adolf Mwesige and the UN special envoy for the Great Lakes region, Huang Xia at the ministry of Defence headquarters in Mbuya.

According to a statement, Huang briefed the minister on the ongoing preparations for the upcoming high level meeting of the regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.

He expressed high appreciation to Uganda towards the contribution of peacekeeping missions that are supported by the United Nations.

He thanked the UPDF leadership for the high level of professionalism exhibited by the forces in peacekeeping missions.

He said that the Great Lakes region and Africa at large still face challenges such as the fight against rebel groups like ADF which hinder the efforts by the UPDF troops towards peacekeeping.

Mwesige thanked the envoy for the interactive meeting and said that the UPDF remains steadfast in repulsing any attempts or attacks made by the ADF informing him that the remnants had fled to eastern DRC.

Mwesige said that under the leadership of the President Museveni, Uganda has and will always embrace the Pan African ideology especially in peacekeeping and UN missions whenever called upon.

The minister said that Uganda, alongside military solutions, had applied the Amnesty law that is dedicated to support, rehabilitate and reintegrate rebels who denounce rebellion.