Uganda fronts Kiraso for ICGLR executive secretary

Uganda has fronted Beatrice Kiraso, a former East African Community (EAC) top official, to run for the position of Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). Kiraso is seeking mandate as ICGLR chief. (Internet photo) An accomplished diplomat and legislator, Kiraso served from 2006-2012 as the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation. The ICGLR secretariat position fell vacant in December last year after the expiry of the term of office of DR Congo’s Prof. Lumu Alphonse Ntumba Luaba. “She is our best choice for the job and with the support of other countries, we are sure she will win,” Amb. James Mugume, the permanent secretary in Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters in Kampala yesterday. Mugume added that Uganda stands a high chance of filling the position given that it hasn’t expressed interest in EAC, and IGAD for top positions that are falling vacant. The African Union summit and inter-ministerial committee meeting will take place in Addis Ababa next week, where the ICGLR candidates are expected to canvass for support. The ICGLR secretariat, which had planned to hold its selection meeting next month, has pushed the meeting to March following a request from Uganda to give it time to handle its February 18 presidential elections. Unlike EAC, observers have on a number of times criticised the eleven-member body for being a non vibrant organsation that lacks competence in terms of resource mobilisation and regional diplomacy. Speaking to Saturday Times, Kiraso said her priority areas include developing a strategy to improve ICGLR visibility and create more partnerships to accelerate implementation of key ICGLR pacts. “I will develop a solid resource mobilisation strategy as well as a framework for facilitating and monitoring implementation of commitments by member states,” she said. Other contenders in the race for the job include; Ambassador Lucy Mungoma from Zambia, Zakary Muita from Kenya, Dr Pauline Elaine from South Sudan, and Dr Muhamod Hassan from Sudan. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Uganda fronts Kiraso for ICGLR executive secretary