The Minister of State for Regional Affairs, John Mulimba, on Wednesday met with Maria Hakansson, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden, to discuss peace and security in the Great Lakes region, cautioning against unilateral actions that could escalate tensions.
Amb Hakansson, representing Sweden as the current Chair of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes, informed Mulimba that her country had assumed the Group’s Chairmanship in January 2026 for a six-month term.
She highlighted Sweden’s renewed interest in regional security and its intention to provide humanitarian support.
Mulimba congratulated Sweden on taking up the Chairmanship and commended the country for its role in promoting peace and security in the Great Lakes and across Africa.
He stressed Uganda’s position as a key player in regional integration and emphasized the need for harmonizing regional initiatives with international efforts, including the Doha and Washington processes.
Referring to Uganda’s hosting of the 12th High-Level Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) Summit at State House Entebbe in December 2025, Mulimba reaffirmed the country’s commitment to fostering peace and cooperation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the broader region.
He warned that unilateral decisions by states risk undermining collective security efforts.
“What we are seeing today is a result of States taking unilateral decisions,” he said.
On the United Nations recommendation to draw down troops in Somalia, Mulimba called for a needs-based approach, emphasizing the importance of realistic assessments by the international community to address regional challenges effectively.
He also noted that the duration of Operation Shujaa against the Allied Democratic Forces in the DR Congo would similarly be guided by operational needs.
