Defence Minister Meets New ICRC Regional Head, Reaffirms Uganda’s Commitment To Peace
The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, has met the new Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation, Kedir Awol Omar, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Defence Headquarters in Mbuya.
The meeting focused on strengthening the long-standing cooperation between Uganda and the ICRC and introducing the newly appointed head of delegation.
Hon. Oboth appreciated the ICRC for their invaluable support to Uganda during the country’s turbulent past. He said Uganda has drawn valuable lessons from the turbulent history and now plays a leading role in promoting peace across the continent. He noted that the country continues to prioritise stability after years of conflict.
“Uganda is a country that went through a lot because of the turmoil experienced since independence,” he said. “We have built peace from those difficult experiences. We now remain a net exporter of peace and will not allow a return to instability”
He attributed Uganda’s progress to the government’s four guiding principles: Pan-Africanism, patriotism, democracy and socio-economic transformation. According to him, these pillars have strengthened the country and enabled it to support regional peace efforts.
The Minister praised the ICRC for its ongoing work in Uganda, including training initiatives and pre-mission briefings conducted jointly with the Uganda Red Cross Society for People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) troops deploying abroad.
He reaffirmed the government’s belief in conflict prevention and welcomed continued cooperation.
Mr. Omar, on his part, reaffirmed the ICRC’s commitment to its partnership with Uganda. He commended the UPDF for integrating International Humanitarian Law into its training curriculum and for its cooperation with the ICRC in operational areas.
He highlighted the ICRC’s mandate to protect and assist communities affected by conflict and underscored the organisation’s practice of confidential dialogue. He pledged to continue sharing field findings with the Ministry of Defence and the UPDF.
The meeting was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Rosette Byengoma, and the Deputy Director of Defence Public Information, Col Henry Obbo.