The PF-ICGLR delegation in Uganda is conducting a mission focused on promoting peace and security in the Eastern DRC. Led by Rt. Hon. Nelly Mutti Butete, the delegation aims to highlight the importance of regional leadership in resolving conflicts. Speaker Anita Among emphasized Uganda’s commitment to local solutions and stability in the region, noting that peace is crucial for development and regional integration.
A delegation from the Forum of Parliamentarians in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (PF-ICGLR) is currently in Uganda to conduct a fact-finding mission regarding peace and security in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Leading the delegation is the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Rt. Hon. Nelly Mutti Butete, who will also meet with President Yoweri Museveni.
During the welcoming address on March 10, 2025, Speaker Anita Among praised the delegation for their dedication to regional peace and underscored Uganda’s support for African-led solutions to continental issues. She expressed, “As Africans, we have always agreed that African problems can only be solved locally. This pursuit that you are doing, moving from one country to another, meeting heads of state to find the best way to achieve peace, is a very good initiative and I applaud you and your team for that.”
Furthermore, Among stressed the essential role of peace in the DRC for the stability of the Great Lakes Region. She articulated the necessity of African nations working together, stating, “Problem-solving is why they are here. We want to see how best peace can be created in the DRC and that peace can only be achieved with our heads of state and with us as Africans. It begins with us.”
In highlighting Uganda’s active engagement in the forum, Among confirmed that the country is current with its financial obligations. Butete outlined the mission’s objectives, emphasizing the critical role of regional leadership in conflict resolution, noting, “This is the fourth phase on issues relating to peace and security in the Eastern DRC. Without peace, we cannot interact, and even regional integration cannot prosper. Peace is a precursor to development.”
Moreover, Butete pointed out the necessity for African nations to assume responsibility for their security issues without leaning on external interventions, stating, “We don’t want to invite strangers to come and intervene in our affairs when we have responsible leaders in our presence who can take charge and guide citizens to ensure peace and stability in the region.”
The delegation’s findings will be reported during the PF-ICGLR plenary in April and subsequently elevated for broader discussions. As Butete nears the end of her term as President of the forum, she underscored the urgency of achieving measurable progress before leadership transitions to Angola. Uganda’s ongoing role in fostering regional peace exemplifies its advocacy for locally-sourced solutions to Africa’s challenges.
The ongoing mission to Uganda by the PF-ICGLR delegation underscores the critical importance of regional cooperation in addressing peace and security issues in the DRC. Uganda’s commitment to African-led solutions and its proactive stance in regional affairs signify a unified approach among African nations to resolve conflicts and promote stability. Such collaborative efforts are pivotal in laying the groundwork for lasting peace and development across the Great Lakes Region.
Original Source: www.zawya.com
