The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagiire, has disclosed that partner states under the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), led by President Museveni, will soon issue an official position on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
The revelation follows demands from committee members questioning the government’s silence since the war erupted over the weekend.
The ongoing war between Israel and Iran, which has resulted in loss of lives and property among allies of the United States in the Middle East, has drawn attention from members of the Public Accounts Committee.
Vincent Bagiire, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was tasked by committee members to clarify Uganda’s stance on a conflict that has claimed thousands of innocent lives across Iran, Israel, and other parts of the Middle East.
“Tell us the position of Uganda on the conflict in Iran. I am the Chairperson of the Uganda-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Committee, and I ask that question from that perspective: where do we stand as a country on that war?” asked Asuman Basalirwa, MP for Bugiri Municipality.
In response, Bagiire told members that Uganda is a sovereign state and is in consultations with its partner states to issue an official statement soon.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that it has sought guidance from Uganda’s Chief Diplomat, President Yoweri Museveni, as consultations continue with members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)—to which both Uganda and Iran belong—on the position the country should take regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East following the United States’ actions over the weekend,” said Bagiire.
Bagiire further updated committee members on the evacuation process for Ugandans in Iran and warned of the temporary suspension of flights to the Middle East until the situation stabilizes.
“The ongoing situation remains critical, and I request that Ugandans planning to travel abroad suspend their trips until the situation normalizes,” said Bagiire.
Elsewhere, committee members criticized officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over Uganda’s reluctance to clear outstanding obligations to international organizations, currently standing at Shs 83.5 billion.
Other queries raised included the non-registration of 140 vehicles donated by the government of China to Uganda during the NAM conference in 2018.
