The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has urged the ongoing Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to devise tangible solutions to the debt trap that member states are now experiencing.

These remarks were made by Faizo Muzeyi, the UPC Head of Communication, while addressing the media on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Uganda House.

He called upon NAM leaders to pay urgent attention and address the challenges that deeply affect NAM member states.

In his speech, Muzeyi stated that a heavy debt burden has enslaved NAM member states since the Arab-Israel war of the early 1970s, which has reduced the capacity to invest in economies and trade as well as create viable opportunities for the youthful population.

Additionally, he highlighted other challenges that should be addressed by NAM, including food insecurity, climate change, poor health, unemployment, migration, and terrorism.

“As UPC, we want NAM to show concentration and decisiveness in order to rekindle optimism for a better future,” he said.

Muzeyi stated that to address some of these challenges, there is a need to put in place massive investments in innovation and technology that can boast large-scale production, as well as a heavy reliance on local raw materials.

UPC also called upon developed countries to teach other lagging member states how to thrive.

“The NAM members who have made a breakthrough in development should act as a model to inspire others, which is consistent with the theme of the ongoing NAM Summit, “deepening cooperation for shared global affluence,” he added.

Uganda is hosting the 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit. NAM has 120 member states, and Uganda is the sixth African country to host NAM after Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.