In the face of the current global shocks occasioned by multiple human, natural, ecological, sociological and financial crisis, we can all agree that the World is not in a good place. Today, the negative consequences of disunity have given rise to conflicts, global instability, inter-state rivalry, and has worsened the already existing problems of poverty, hunger, and disease in many parts of the world. There is therefore need to recommit ourselves to a common identity of shared humanity in the modern global village.

We should live by the Charter of the United Nations with a sincere determination to save future generations from the scourge of war. We should fully commit ourselves to upholding the dignity and worth of human person for peaceful coexistence and tolerance regardless of our differences in values, cultures, race, ideologies, and religions, without political-military threats or dominion by war.

We must resolve our political commitment for the full implementation of globally agreed frameworks for the promotion of social - economic development and advancement of all people. In this regard, urgent action is required to address global inequalities with regard to poverty, hunger and disease which continue to affect disproportionally the poorest and most vulnerable.

Therefore, this is the time to ask the following questions:

• Why have we failed to forge stronger international cooperation in response to collective global challenges?

• Why is it that, in spite of the multiple global commitments derived through consensually formulated resolutions, decisions and commitments, do all these remain unimplemented?

Most conflict drivers begin as unresolved local or regional tensions or problems, which become increasingly complex sometimes involving multiple actors. Regional conflicts must be addressed comprehensively beyond security with the need for broad and strong political commitments by the regional governments.

Uganda believes in the peaceful resolution of conflicts wherever they occur. We are at the forefront of promoting regional peace, security and stability necessary for economic development. In this respect, Uganda encourages international partners to support local and regional led initiatives or solutions for building peace and stability as prerequisites for sustained and inclusive economic growth and development in our countries and regions. We call on increased collaboration by the international community to eliminate or reduce the incidence of conflicts caused by factors such as inequality, climate change, pandemics, new technologies, trans-national organized crime and terrorism.

Uganda believes that the benefits of this world must be shared with all humanity and detests all forms of exclusion by the relatively few wealth nations. We reject the increasing competition and confrontation between major powers, which undermines the collective international responses to security, peace, stability and social economic development.

Uganda reiterates its call for the urgent and comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, for Africa to be represented in both Permanent and Non Permanent categories as a special case in order to address the historical injustice and the urgent imperative to address it and fully supports the Common African Position (CAP) on this matter. The African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State (C10), under the leadership of the Republic of Sierra Leone, has been pursuing the mandate to promote, advocate and canvass for support of the Common African Position (CAP) on the reform of the United Nations Security Council as stipulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

The position is that, Africa should have two Permanent Seats with a veto if others have it and two additional Non-Permanent Seats on the Security Council. The Committee of Ten (C-10), since 2005, has been driven with the hope and conviction of sovereign equality in representation and participation in Intergovernmental negotiations for the reform of the UN Security Council, to make it more responsive to current circumstances, achieve a future of shared goals for humanity. The core aspiration is for Africa to get representation in the United Nations Security Council as equal partners, and make a contribution to a multilateral system that should become inclusive, equitable, and work for the international peace and security of all, without paralysis or succumbing to parochial interests of major powers.

We demand for the right to development as equal members of the international community without any preconditions or politicization for greater human dignity, freedom, social economic justice. We call for fair access to means of production, technology and capital for the social economic transformation of our economies in line with our national legal frameworks and development plans. Uganda believes that the perpetual preservation of poverty and inequalities in developing countries undermines the fundamental human rights, in particular the rights of the marginalized and poor, and remains a threat to international peace and security, which should no longer be overlooked. Uganda as chair of the Non-Aligned Movement will work with countries of the Non-Aligned Movement as well as other countries on the inter-governmental processes that shall lead to the adoption of the UN Covenant on the Right to Development.

Financing remains one of the greatest challenges that undermine the efforts of developing countries to fully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achievement of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Borrowing is critical for financing investments in sustainable development. Sovereign debt is an important tool for financing sustainable development, enabling low-income countries to invest in infrastructure, health, education, and other critical areas. We emphasize that loans to low-income developing countries should be concessional and at zero interest rate. This will enable our countries to finance productive investments, including building infrastructure to improve connectivity, make debt sustainable in the long-run and spur economic growth which will in turn help to improve domestic tax collection and raise revenues.

Uganda like other developing countries faces constraints of domestic resource mobilization due to limited tax base. We call for strengthening of the international cooperation in tax matters to ensure that it is effective and inclusive by making Multi-National Cooperations pay taxes in countries of their operations, including collections of revenue generated by e-commerce in cross border transactions.

We fully support the ongoing discussions on adoption of the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and call upon all countries to negotiate constructively. We also call for the strengthening of international cooperation in the prevention of and combating illicit financial flows with a view of ensuring that all illicit funds or resources including assets are returned to their countries of origin. Furthermore, Uganda calls for the urgent reform of the international financial architecture, including the international financial institutions and their rules to ensure equitable representation of developing countries in international economic governance decision making that affect the trajectory of their national development.

Uganda identified four key sectors of wealth and job creation in line with its national development plan, that include; agro-processing, industrialization, services, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), digitization and skills development to support our socio-economic transformation. There is no doubt that affordable energy and access to affordable high–quality internet connectivity is vital to catalyze their full implementation in order to realize inclusive development outcomes and benefits for our people. We need to strengthen deeper collaboration with the global South with the support of our partners in the North, to unlock shared prosperity by building the necessary infrastructure and connectivity to increase productive capacity for rapid growth, economic take-off and sustainable development.

In this regard, Uganda calls on the international community to support the full implementation of the African continental free trade area (AfCFTA). Furthermore, Uganda calls on the international community to support its path to sustainable development. We encourage foreign individuals and companies to invest in the country. We welcome inflows of money, technology, knowledge, skills and expertise as major sources of non-debt financial resources for the economic development of our country. Uganda also calls for collaboration by the international community in medical research for global health to develop vaccines and treatments to combat diseases like Ebola, Covid19, Monkey-pox and improving healthcare capability in low-income countries particularly in Africa.

Uganda advocates for mutually beneficial trade and investment. We encourage that in pursuing sustainable development Foreign Direct investments should be geared to adding value by processing raw materials inside our country where raw materials are produced and to export high value products. This will create jobs, generate high incomes and increased taxable revenues. We call on Multi-national Companies (MNCs) to desist from purchasing raw materials and only selling processed products for consumption in developing countries.

We equally call on developed economies and Multinational Companies (MNCs) that buy raw materials to process them and add value in their countries should take measures to institute policies that allow sharing the profits they generate in the value chain, with the low-income raw material producing countries where it is sourced, for shared prosperity.

Climate change remains one of the greatest challenges to the pursuit of sustainable development. Uganda calls on developed countries to provide the necessary financial, technological as well as capacity building to support developing countries to effectively address climate change. We demand for climate justice, recognizing that richer countries, having historically profited from high emission activities for the development of their economies and bear a greater obligation to lead in mitigating these impacts.

Therefore, the high-income countries should reduce their emissions and equally support developing countries in their gradual transition to low-emission development pathways, without using the environment as a political and economic tool to block or slow down their development. We emphasize that climate finance should be additional to official development assistance.

Developing countries face great challenges, including the increase in unilateral political, economic and trade actions or policies and the weakening of multilateralism, which are flagrant violations of the principles established in the UN Charter, international law, and the purposes of the United Nations. We consider that it is urgent to stop these actions that threaten the economic and social development of the countries that are subject to them and, consequently, prevent them from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Uganda reiterates its call to put an end to the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on those sisterly nations under sanctions, which is a major impediment to their sustainable development. Uganda also reiterates its firm rejection to the imposition of laws and regulations with extraterritorial impact and all other forms of coercive measures, including unilateral sanctions, against developing countries and reiterates the urgent need to eliminate them immediately.

In conclusion, Uganda will continue working together in solidarity to achieve a revitalized multilateral system which is capable of adequately addressing current and emerging global challenges. We firmly believe that multilateralism remains a fundamental and crucial mechanism for addressing our common challenges namely;

1.Acceleration of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

2.Scaling up action to address climate change and biodiversity loss;

3.Strengthening international tax cooperation;

4.Availing adequate concessional financing for development;

5.Fight against illicit financial flows and enhancing global collaboration in digital and artificial technologies to maximize the benefits to society and minimize harm, among others.

By Hon. Nabbanja Robinah

Prime Minister, The Republic of Uganda