Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | The government has decided against acquiring new vehicles for the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit scheduled for January 15–20, 2024, at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Speke Resort due to budgetary constraints. Instead, they plan to mobilize existing fleets from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

John Mulimba, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, presented this information in a progress report during a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Thursday. Mulimba highlighted that, due to financial limitations, the Ministry of Works and Transport has assessed 215,922 vehicles, determining that 1,543 are in good working condition.

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Mulimba clarified that, despite the resource constraints, the government needs to procure 30 vehicles as part of a cooperation agreement. The Ministry of Works will conduct further inspections on the 1,543 identified fleets before the end of December 2023 and early January 2024. These efforts will be complemented by vehicles donated by bilateral partners China and India to facilitate the transportation of over 3,000 visitors.

In 2020, China donated 70 vehicles to Uganda, and an additional 70 have recently arrived. Mulimba disclosed that India has donated 10 executive buses and five ambulances, expected to reach Uganda by the end of the month.

Regarding accommodation, Mulimba reported that the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has already graded the first batch of 32 hotels, totaling 6,248 rooms in Kampala and Entebbe. More facilities are awaiting grading.

The 19th NAM Summit, combining Heads of State and Government and the Third South Summit, will take place in three segments: January 15–16 (Senior Officials), January 17–18 (Ministers of Foreign Affairs), and January 19–20 (Heads of State and Government).

Mulimba emphasized the anticipated benefits of Uganda’s chairmanship, stating that the global event is expected to enhance Uganda’s positive image in the medium to long term, contributing to the promotion of national interests.

Bugweri County Member of Parliament, Abdu Katuntu, noted that hosting such global events reflects Uganda’s international standing, citing previous instances like the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007 and the upcoming Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference in January 2024.

Speaker Anita Among expressed satisfaction with the update, addressing skepticism among legislators. The Cabinet had approved a budget of 3.594 Billion Shillings for the organization of the two Summits during its meeting on March 27, 2023.

Established in 1961, NAM originated from a desire to avoid polarization during the Cold War. The Movement, comprising 120 Member States, 18 Observer countries, and 10 Observer Organizations, has no formal organizational structure and is coordinated by the Permanent Representatives in New York and five Missions in various locations. Uganda is set to assume the chairmanship of NAM and the Group of 77 and China for the period 2024 to 2027.