Expressing solidarity with Ugandan people, in the wake of recent violence in the country immediate neighbors, a world record refugee burden – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is going to spend several days in Uganda.
Mr. Guterres is expected to arrive today in the country for the Refugee Solidarity Summit that starts tomorrow.
The former UN refugee chief held his first formal news conference at UN Headquarters since becoming UN secretary-general on Jan. 1 Guterres said he was leaving Tuesday night on a “message of solidarity” to visit the 1.3 million refugees in Uganda — 950,000 from South Sudan alone — and to express gratitude to the country for “providing them not only with protection, but even with plots of land and the capacity to live not in camps, but in the society, in a way that is much more humane.”
He comes to Uganda alongside the presidents of Guinea and chairman of the African Union Alpha Conde, Somalia’s Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Gabon’s Ali Bongo, Zambia’s Edgar Lungu, Ethiopia’s Hailemariam Desalegn and will be welcome at Entebbe International by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.
Mr Guterres is expected to visit the Imvempi Settlement Camp in Arua District with about 110,000 refugees from South Sudan.
Uganda’s refugee burden and model will be the focus as President Museveni and Mr Guterres will co-chair the main summit event on Friday at which government and the UN seek to raise at least $2b (Shs7 trillion) to fund relief operations for the more 1.2 million refugees Uganda is hosting.
