The Honourable John Mulimba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, today addressed Ambassadors and High Commissioners from the Nile Basin Member and Observer States during a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The briefing session was organized to provide an update on the status of preparations for the upcoming Second Summit of the Nile River Basin Heads of State and Government, scheduled to be hosted by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, on 17th October 2024.
The First Summit of Heads of State of the Nile Basin countries was held in June 2017 in Uganda, hosted by President Museveni. Uganda currently holds the chairmanship of the Nile River Basin States Initiatives up to June 2025. Uganda’s Chairmanship coincides with the historic coming into force of the Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA) on 13th October 2024 following expiry of sixty-days after the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification of the CFA by the Republic of South Sudan on 14th August 2024.
The Summit is expected to launch the Nile River Basin Commission as provided for in the CFA, guide on the process for continued engagements amongst riparian countries on Nile matters and launch the process for finalization and implementation of the Nile River Basin Investment Program. It will be preceded by a joint meeting of Foreign and Water Affairs Ministers on 16th October 2024, which will set the stage for discussions among the Heads of State and Government.
Uganda is committed to ensuring the success of the Second Summit, which will mark a new era of cooperation and sustainable development in the Nile Basin. As the Nile River Basin Commission prepares to officially come into effect, Uganda reaffirms its dedication to fostering equitable water resource management and promoting regional prosperity through collective action.
