Lucy Nakyobe, the Chief Organizer of NAM said that, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of Seventy Seven + China Third South (G77+China) Summits to be held in Uganda will ensure the promotion of tourism, trade and investment thereby fetching more revenue for the country.
Nakyobe made the revelation on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at Kampala Serena Hotel during the media launch of the 19th NAM and the 3rd South Summits due to take place from January 15-20 and 21-23, 2024, respectively at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, where Uganda will assume the chairmanship.
The Chairperson Organizing said that the summits will be beneficial to the citizens of Uganda both directly and indirectly, thus boosting the revenue of the country.
“The investment profits from the summits are many, both visible and invisible. The business forum event will promote trade and manufacturing industry, promote investment, tourism through selling our country to the guests who will be here, and so, they can influence others to come,” Nakyobe stated.
She noted that there will be a socio-economic benefit for the citizens as the dignitaries will not only come but also spend, and as a result, acquire money from them which will boost trade.
Nakyobe said that the summits will give Uganda an opportunity to be known by the outside world since several people across are not in position to locate Uganda.
“There is the social interaction and political benefit as a vote of confidence in our President and the country at large to be able to host the two summits but above all, increase visibility for Uganda,” she said.
On the side of the tourism sector, Doreen Katusiime, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities said that, the two summits will enhance trade, tourism and investment in the country.
She said that Uganda is positioning herself as the best destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events (MICE), adding that with the hosting of the two summits, it will be a big boost for the tourism industry since hotels, A&Bs, Guest Houses, restaurants, and entertainment places, among others will be very busy.
“Tourism is not all about leaving Kampala to visit a National Park, but it’s much broader than that. As Uganda, we are now positioning ourselves as a MICE destination. When we have an event like Nyege Nyege, all hotels will be full. Now if you have two summits happening in the country, you can imagine how many hotels in Kampala and Entebbe will be full and busy for the entertainment places,” Katusiime said.
Katusiime added that even the convention will be a big boost to the tourism sector.
“The hotels and entertainment places will be busy and the convention center being built will be a big boost to the tourism industry. So it’s not true to think that there’s no boost for the industry,” she noted.
The PS further said that, some of the delegates will be visiting for the first time, and are likely to come back with their friends and families.
She revealed that the Ministry of Tourism is working with the tourism private sector to come up with planned routes (itineraries) for the dignitaries and putting up performances to benefit the industry.
Katusiime emphasized that the incident that occurred at Queen Elizabeth National Park that led to the death of two tourists and guide was unfortunate but an isolated one, adding that the place and all other National Parks are secure.
Dorothy Kisaka, the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) said that they have engaged in several works of road refurbishment, decongestion on walk ways, solid waste management and lighting up the city.
She said that, authority has embarked on rehabilitating the black spots on Munyonyo road which have been flooding, and other ten roads of Mukwano, Press House, Gaba, Salama, UCB Rise, Mubutu, and Kakungulu, among others.
The ED asked Kampala residents to comply with the set rules to ensure the smooth running of road works, adding that, they will avail dustbins soon.
Kisaka noted that, trading and businesses will live within the designated places.
“I will not condone trading in illegal places. Trading in an illegal place is not allowed. We are appealing to the city leadership, religious leaders, and the media fraternity to help in ensuring that the city clean,” she noted.
She further called upon all stakeholders to work together with the authority for the common cause.
However, John Mulimba, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs, when asked about the issue of the recent advisory issued by the UK, he said that, as members of NAM, the have principles of respect of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign States.
“Being members of NAM, one of the principles is non-interference in internal affairs. So, our country is in charge of her security and we’re calling upon the world to listen to advisories from Uganda who is in charge of her affairs in Uganda,” he said.
The minister gave an example of the recently concluded Nyege Nyege festival in Jinja which he said was the most peaceful.
“You’re aware Nyege Nyege concluded yesterday, and I think this time, it recorded the highest in terms of performance, attendance, and it has been one of the best I think, in the events that we’ve had. It was very peaceful,” he stated.
Adding, “We are in touch with these embassies and we’re also telling them that we have our advisories.”
The Business Forum is theming under Deeper Cooperation in Trade, Tourism and Investment for Shared Global Affluence.
Uganda will also chair the G77 in 2024 and assume NAM chair from 2024-2027 and at the end of the two summits, the Kampala Declaration will be adopted where Uganda will have permanent staff sit at the UN offices to run NAM activities on behalf of the group.
As Uganda is destined to earn significant international exposure, mainly in terms of boosting its financial well-being and tourism industry, it has an opportunity to create and build a strong rapport with other countries through the high-profile Heads of State sharing their good experiences they will have had in Uganda, which in turn will attract the entire world to visit the country.
NAM comprises of 120 member states while G77 comprises of 134 member states. Uganda was admitted to the membership of NAM during the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government that was held from October 5-10, 1964, in Cairo, Egypt.
NAM was adopted at the Afro-Asian conference in 1955 in Bandung, Indonesia to guide the operations of the new international bloc, with a view of advancing the interests of developing countries in the context of Cold War confrontations.
G77 on the other hand was established by seventy-seven developing countries signatories to the Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Developing Countries issued at the end of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva on 15 June 1964. Over the years, the membership in G77 has increased from the original 77 to 134 countries of the global south. However, the original name was maintained due to its historic significance.
