H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been elected as the Chairperson of the 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to take on the chairmanship for a period of three years from 2024 to 2027.

President Museveni was elected (elected by information) on Friday, January 19, 2024, by the assembly led by Azerbaijan (which has been the previous chair of the organization) that convened in the Rwenzori Convention Centre at the Commonwealth Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.

During his time as chair, President Museveni will further contribute to the aspirations of the Movement.There are arising challenges of climate change, unemployment, and conflicts, among others, that are affecting member states, which the organisation being led by the chairing country has to handle to ensure collective socio-economic transformation.

As the current Chair, President Museveni asked the world to concentrate on the common human problems, including climate change, crime, and terrorism, by embracing prosperity for trade and the advance of science and technology to deal with the issues affecting man.

“Our stand is that the world should concentrate on the common human problem of prosperity through trade and the advancement of science and technology to deal with human problems, the environment, crime, and terrorism. The future is bright if we act right,” he said.

He urged the assembly to utilize the strength of the NAM to exercise considerable influence, especially at the United Nations level, for effective transformation.

Jeyhun Bayramov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who represented the president, commended their chairmanship for ensuring the voice of women on all possible platforms is heard.

He therefore asked Uganda to further continue with the legacy already set by the previous chairmanship.

“Indeed, in a very challenging time for humanity, the Azerbaijan chairmanship has done its best to make the voice of women heard on all possible platforms with successful initiatives. No doubt the Ugandan chairmanship will continue with this legacy even further, building upon it,” Bayramov said.

He thanked the assembly for its trust and solidarity in Azerbaijan, adding that the country assumed the chairmanship at a critical time that necessitated conservative and effective responses to the challenges of the contemporary world.

Uganda was admitted to the NAM in 1964, two years after attaining her independence, while Azerbaijan was admitted to the Movement in 2011 and assumed the chairmanship in 2019, until 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exceeding the three-year limit of chairmanship.

The 19th NAM summit in Uganda is being run and guided by the theme “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.” Uganda is the 18th country to take on the chairmanship of the Movement. Belgrade-Yugoslavia (the current Serbia) was the first, then Egypt, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Cuba, India, India, Zimbabwe, Yogoslavia (second time), Indonesia, Colombia, South Africa, Malaysia, Egypt (second time), Iran, Hungary, Venezuela, Azerbaijan and Uganda followed suit.