Uganda

The President of the UN General Assembly, Excellencies the Heads of State and Government, The Secretary-General of United Nations, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen

I bring you warm greetings from H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who could not be present personally and on whose behalf I am privileged to address this 80th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Madam President,

Let me begin by warmly congratulating you on your election as President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Uganda assures you of its full support throughout your tenure. I also extend our appreciation to H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang for his capable leadership during the 79th Session. We commend the Secretary-General, H.E. António Guterres, for his continued commitment to the roles and responsibilities of the United Nations.

This year marks 80 years since the founding of the United Nations—born out of the devastation of the Second World War, with the aim of preventing future wars and promoting global cooperation. This anniversary is a timely reminder of our shared responsibility to uphold multilateralism and strengthen global solidarity in addressing common challenges.

The theme of this year's General Assembly "Better together" resonates well with our national objectives. Uganda firmly believes that multilateralism remains an essential framework for building collective solutions to global problems. We reaffirm our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations as the cornerstone of multilateralism, international diplomacy and cooperation with the global mechanisms to promote and support the intertwined values of humanity, namely; peace and security, human rights, and shared prosperity. We are equally committed to fast-tracking the achievement of the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development and implementation of the Pact for the Future.

Madam President,

Uganda continues to play an active role in advancing peace, stability, and security within our region e.g. Somalia, South Sudan, DRC, Sudan, etc.

Uganda remains committed to the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts. We remain the largest troop contributor to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) since 2007, which was succeeded by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and now the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). As a country, we have invested both human and financial resources in promoting peace and stability unreservedly. These efforts require reliable and predictable funding. We therefore call on the International Community to commit adequate resources for peacebuilding and peacekeeping missions to ensure their sustainability, effectiveness and success.

In South Sudan, Uganda continues to support the peace process as one of the guarantors of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), contributing to efforts aimed at restoring stability and unity in the country.

On the peace efforts in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda has been working with regional leaders on the Nairobi and Luanda processes aimed at finding a lasting solution. We also remain supportive of other complimentary efforts by the international community.

We urge greater international support for regionally-led peacebuilding and stabilization initiatives, recognizing them as vital foundations for inclusive and sustainable development. We also call for enhanced global cooperation in tackling the root causes of conflict, including inequality, climate change, pandemics, new technologies, transnational crime, and terrorism.

Madam President,

Uganda calls for the comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council to address the imbalance in its current configuration and make it more equitable, just and democratic. We demand for Africa's representation on the Council as a special case, as a matter of urgency, in both the Permanent and non-Permanent categories, in line with the Common African Position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. Africa must have two seats in the Permanent Category with all rights and privileges and two additional seats in the Non-Permanent category.

On the question of Palestine, we urge the international community to give renewed priority to the realization of the internationally endorsed Two-State Solution. We appeal to the United Nations Security Council to play a decisive and just role in resolving the Palestinian issue, which is crucial for lasting peace in the Middle East and central to global peace and security.

We join the international community in the long-standing call to end the embargo on Cuba, that has been tightened recently with unfair designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Madam President,

Uganda is recognized globally for its progressive refugee policies. We host the largest number of refugees in Africa—currently standing at 1.93 million. Uganda allocates land to refugees and integrates them into our national systems, sharing public services such as education and healthcare.

However, this model is under serious pressure due to declining international support amidst rising global geopolitical tensions. The drop in partner funding has strained our already limited resources, affecting both host communities and our ability to meet national development targets, including the SDGs.

Uganda remains committed to upholding its obligations, but we cannot do this alone, as it diverts vital resources from our national development needs. We urge the international community to meet its obligations and support host countries like Uganda. Refugee hosting should not become a debt burden. Uganda should not be expected to borrow money to care for displaced populations fleeing conflict.

Madam President,

With just five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, progress in many developing countries remains far off track. Bridging the estimated $4 trillion annual financing gap is crucial. The failure to mobilize adequate resources highlights the shortcomings of current international financial cooperation.

We call on the international community to fully implement existing commitments, including the Sevilla Commitment, the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the 2008 Doha Declaration, and the 2002 Monterrey Consensus. These agreements provide a framework for enabling developing countries to expand their fiscal and policy space and drive balanced, inclusive development.

Accelerating the SDGs requires renewed commitment to multilateralism, global solidarity, and the strengthening of international cooperation mechanisms to ensure no one is left behind.

Madam President,

Uganda's commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights remains central to our national development agenda. Our Constitution guarantees civil and political rights, freedoms of association, assembly, and expression, and the right of every citizen to participate in democratic governance. Since the introduction of multi-party democracy in 2005, Ugandans have enjoyed regular, free, and fair elections at all levels of government.

Madam President,

Uganda was first country in the Sub-Saharan Africa to introduce universal free primary education in 1987 and universal free secondary education in 2007. An endeavor which has enabled all children to attain basic education and has improved on literacy and numeracy levels in our country.

Health remains at the core of our development strategy. Uganda is scaling up investments in primary healthcare and deploying digital health solutions to improve service delivery and accountability.

Our HIV/AIDS response remains a global model of political will and community engagement. Under the Presidential Fast-Track Initiative, Uganda has reduced HIV prevalence to 5.5%, achieved 96% treatment coverage among those diagnosed, and over 90% viral suppression.

Madam President,

As the current Chair of NAM, Uganda is committed to advancing the principles of unity, peace, and solidarity among its members. We support stronger collaboration between NAM and the UN in promoting the interests of developing countries. In this context, we call for accelerated progress on the adoption of the long-overdue Covenant on the Right to Development. Uganda looks forward to welcoming the Honourable Ministers of NAM Member States and Observers at the 19th Midterm Ministerial Conference scheduled to take place in Kampala from 15-16 October 2025.

Madam President,

As I conclude, the United Nations has stood as a pillar of peace, development, and human dignity for the last eight decades. Its role remains indispensable. It would be impossible to imagine the world today without the United Nations. Uganda acknowledges the UN's many achievements, its legitimacy, convening power, and normative influence.

More must be done to adapt and strengthen multilateralism. We must redouble our efforts to uphold international cooperation and ensure that the United Nations System is reflective of the current realities and capable of addressing the intertwined global challenges of peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development.

Let us commit to leaving no one behind "Better together".

I thank you.