Vice President Jessica Alupo drew brief but notable attention in Washington on Thursday when US President Donald Trump publicly complimented her outfit during the signing of the Rwanda–Congo Peace Accord at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace Building, following earlier engagements by regional leaders at the White House.
Alupo had flown to the United States aboard the presidential Gulfstream jet to represent President Museveni as a regional observer and facilitator to the agreement.
During a light moment before proceedings formally began, Trump drew the audience to her attention and went sweet.
“The Vice President of Uganda… that’s such a beautiful colour! All these guys are wearing these dark suits. You just stand out. For a lot of reasons. You’re beautiful!”
Alupo’s choice of attire contrasted sharply with the predominantly dark-suited diplomatic crowd.
She wore a bright sunflower-yellow jacket over a white, knee-length dress patterned with soft blue and amber florals—an ensemble that brought a rare burst of colour to the room and briefly became a talking point among delegates.
Although Alupo did not speak during the ceremony, her written remarks—prepared on behalf of Museveni—were circulated among diplomats and were widely noted for their emphasis on long-term regional stability and the political discipline required to end recurring conflict in eastern DR Congo.
Through her, Museveni congratulated Trump, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, and the M23 leadership for reaching what he described as a consequential step in resolving a long-running crisis.
He praised the negotiators for demonstrating “political foresight and courage” and warned against the continued influence of “parasite actors” who fuel instability through sectarian agendas.
Museveni also recalled past nationalist efforts in Uganda that resisted tribal and religious fragmentation, reiterating the principles he says underpin Uganda’s governance—patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy.
He criticised the habit of resorting to armed confrontation where dialogue would suffice and cautioned regional leaders against relying on foreign sponsors to settle internal disputes.
While welcoming progress on the M23 question, Museveni noted that violence in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu remains unresolved.
Uganda currently hosts more than 642,000 Congolese refugees, a situation he said underscores the urgent need for a fully integrated regional peace framework that allows citizens to return home safely.
Alupo held separate interactions with diplomats and regional representatives on the sidelines, reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to collective security efforts and to supporting the implementation of the new accord.
The agreement, hailed by attendees as a rare moment of alignment among Washington, Kigali, and Kinshasa, is expected to set the tone for a new phase of cooperation in Central and Eastern Africa.