MPs Pressure Govt to Lobby Against Relocation of UN Base from Uganda

Members of Parliament have approved a motion requesting government to urge the United Nations to have the UN Regional Service Centre (RSC) in Entebbe retained.

The motion was moved by Lwemiyaga county MP Theodore Ssekikubo and seconded by the Member of Parliament for Bubulo West, Rose Mutonyi Masaba among others.

Ssekikubo told Parliament that the Centre should stay at Entebbe since it brings in the country about USD 30 million per year and its staff use Ugandan hotels, eat Ugandan food and use Ugandan facilities.

“Whatever shade of opinion, we must stand for Ugandans and urge government to do all it takes to ensure that the country doesn’t lose the centre.

“The centre processes 175,000 payroll to all the UN peace keeping missions in Africa, this payroll includes, the locally recruited staff, international civilians, UN personnel and volunteers,” Ssekikubo stressed.

The legislators urged government to deploy its diplomacy to ensure that Uganda is given an opportunity to house the Global shared services centre for the African Region given the immense contribution she has given to the international community.

“Government is urged to bring to the attention of the United Nations General Assembly Uganda’s reciprocity and participation in international engagements including her membership in EAC, IGAAD, AU and the UN”.

The Member of Parliament for Mbale municipality, Jack Wamai Wamanga said that it was not too late for Uganda to lobby UN and Kenya to have the base remain in Entebbe.

“We must attach professionals to international organisations who must be on the floors and corridors of UN and they should have known that this was coming, professional people whose work is to lobby, we should have lobbied before this thing came to the public to get us unaware,” Wamai submitted.

Ssekikubo pointed out that Uganda is todate the largest contributor to AMISOM urging the UN to let Uganda host the base.

“Uganda was the first country to send troops to AMISOM, we contribute the highest number of troops todate. It would be undiplomatic to take the UN base away,” Ssekikubo observed.

However, the Minister of State for International cooperation, Okello Oryem Oryem assured Parliament that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa still holds his position and that he will continue to represent the country on foreign duties.

This followed reports that Minister Kutesa and his family had been barred and denied visa to travel to the United States of America.

Oryem noted that there are no criminal summons or warrants issued to minister Kutesa by the American government and that he is freely moving on official duties in any of the countries.