Summary:
- Delegates for the 19th Non-Aligned Movement summit have started arriving in Uganda amid tight security measures at Entebbe International Airport. The event, running from January 15 to 23, is expected to host 1,000 to 1,500 delegates.
Hundreds of senior officials, designated as delegates for the 19th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), scheduled to commence today, have begun arriving in the country. They landed at Entebbe International Airport yesterday, encountering heightened security both within and around the airstrip, with substantial deployments on major routes and throughout the city.
Military personnel and police diligently patrolled the premises, vigilant for any signs of suspicious activity. Journalists were barred from accessing the airport due to stringent security measures in place.
The parking areas at the airport featured coasters adorned with the initials of the 19th NAM and G77+ China Summit, poised to transport the arriving delegates to their accommodations. Ugandan officials welcomed them at the newly enhanced terminal building, facilitating their transportation to designated hotels in Kampala and Wakiso districts in preparation for this week’s summit activities.
The anticipated attendance at the event, spanning from January 15 to January 23 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, is expected to range between 1,000 and 1,500 delegates. Additional guests, including Foreign Affairs ministers, are anticipated to arrive throughout the week as the summit unfolds.
By January 12, 30 heads of state and government had confirmed their attendance, scheduled to arrive on January 18 for sessions on that day and Friday. The NAM Summit, themed “Deepening cooperation for shared global affluence,” will run from January 15 to January 19, while the G-77 plus China Summit, themed “Leaving no one behind,” will take place from January 20 to January 23.
These summits represent the largest gatherings in the country since the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which hosted Queen Elizabeth II and delegations from Commonwealth member countries.
On Sunday, final preparations were underway to ensure a seamless experience for the guests. Along Yusuf Lule Road, a major route for attendees, mowing machines and other roadworks were in progress.
