New York — Uganda’s Vice President, H.E. Jessica Alupo, delivered a powerful address at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), calling for global solidarity, peace, and reforms to strengthen multilateralism and accelerate sustainable development.
Speaking on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, she urged the international community to rally behind collective solutions to global challenges, from regional conflicts to financing gaps for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“I bring you warm greetings from His Excellency General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, who could not be present personally on this occasion, and on whose behalf I am privileged to address this 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly,” she said, congratulating the newly elected President of the Assembly and assuring Uganda’s full support during her tenure.
Alupo also commended UN Secretary-General António Guterres for his dedication, noting that this year marks “eight decades since the founding of the United Nations, born out of the devastation of the Second World War to prevent future wars and promote global cooperation.”
She said the theme “Better Together” resonated with Uganda’s national objectives, emphasising that multilateralism remains “an essential framework for building collective solutions to global problems, with the Charter of the United Nations as the cornerstone of international diplomacy and cooperation.”
Uganda’s Role in Regional Peace and Stability
Vice President Alupo highlighted Uganda’s pivotal role in advancing peace and security in the region, pointing to its contributions in Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“Uganda remains the largest contributor to the African Union Mission in Somalia since 2007, followed by the African Union Transition Mission and now the African Support and Stabilisation Mission,” she said. “We have invested significant human and financial resources in promoting peace and stability.”
She appealed to the international community to ensure “reliable and predictable funding for peace-building and peacekeeping missions so they are sustainable and effective.”
On South Sudan, she reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to supporting the peace process as a guarantor of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, while on the conflict in eastern DRC, she noted Uganda’s involvement in the Nairobi and Luanda processes to find lasting solutions.
“We call for greater international support for regional peace-building initiatives, recognising them as the foundation for inclusive and sustainable development,” she emphasised.
Call for UN Security Council Reform
Turning to global governance, Vice President Alupo reiterated Uganda’s demand for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council to make it “more equitable, just, and democratic.”
“Africa must have two permanent seats with all rights and privileges and two additional non-permanent seats,” she said, citing the Common African Position and the Ezulwini Consensus.
Humanitarian Concerns: Palestine, Cuba, and Refugees
In the Middle East, Alupo called for renewed international efforts toward a two-state solution for Palestine, urging the Security Council to play “a decisive role in resolving this issue, which is central to lasting peace in the Middle East and global stability.”
She also called for an end to the longstanding embargo on Cuba, which she said had been “unjustly tightened by unfair designations.”
On Uganda’s refugee policies, Alupo reminded the Assembly that Uganda hosts “1.9 million refugees, the largest number in Africa,” providing them with land and integrating them into national education and healthcare systems.
However, she warned that declining international support and rising global tensions are straining Uganda’s capacity. “Refugee hosting should not become a burden carried by a few nations alone,” she stressed.
Financing and the 2030 Agenda
With just five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, Alupo said progress in many developing countries remains off-track. She noted that the “US$4 trillion annual financing gap must be addressed urgently” if the world is to achieve the SDGs.
She urged the international community to fulfil commitments made in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (2015), the Doha Declaration (2022), and the Monterrey Consensus (2002) to expand fiscal space, mobilise resources, and accelerate development.
Human Rights, Education, and Health Achievements
Alupo reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to human rights, democratic governance, and social services. “Our Constitution guarantees civil and political rights, freedom of expression, association, assembly, and democratic participation,” she said, highlighting regular free and fair elections under multi-party democracy.
She cited Uganda’s pioneering role in universal education, introducing free primary education in 1997 and free secondary education in 2007, “enabling millions of children to access education and improve literacy and numeracy nationwide.”
On health, she noted Uganda’s success in reducing HIV prevalence to 5.5%, achieving 96% treatment coverage and 90% viral suppression through the Presidential Fast-Track Initiative.
Non-Aligned Movement Leadership
As the current Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Uganda remains committed to “unity, peace, and solidarity among member states” and seeks stronger collaboration between NAM and the UN in advancing the interests of developing countries.
She invited member states to attend the 19th Mid-Term Ministerial Conference of NAM, scheduled for October 15–16, 2025, in Kampala.
A Call for Multilateralism
In conclusion, Alupo said the UN has stood as “a pillar of peace, development, and human dignity for eight decades,” but stressed the need to adapt it to current realities. “Let us recommit ourselves to a world where no one is left behind—better together,” she declared.
Alupo was accompanied by officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Gen Jeje Odongo, Okello Ryem, Adonia Ayebare (Permanent Representative to the UN, New York), and Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and Ambassador to Ethiopia.