President Yoweri Museveni has said he is confident that a lasting solution to the conflict in Burundi will be found.
The President made the remarks Sunday evening at State House, Nakasero when he received a visiting German Government delegation that was led by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
President Museveni was appointed by the 3rd Extraordinary Summit of the leaders of the East African Community (EAC) in July 2015 in Dar-es-Salaam to lead and facilitate efforts to find a lasting solution to the political situation in Burundi.
Welcoming his German guests to Uganda, Museveni assured them that “the East African Region will solve the conflict in Burundi. We have recorded progress and advised that the peace talks should be all inclusive. The Burundi Government should accept to include the opposition that is within the country and outside,” he said.
He briefed the delegation on the progress of the peace process in Burundi. He also noted that the main cause of instability in Somalia was lack of state pillars and the absence of a healthy political movement.
The President informed the delegation that Uganda recovered because of a political Movement that was started by students adding that the Movement succeeded because it promoted patriotism and Pan Africanism.
He observed that a country cannot realize recovery without a serious political social movement. He revealed that the Ugandan students’ Movement championed integration in their fight to counter sectarianism that was based on tribe and religion.
Turning to the issue of education, President Museveni informed his German guests that Uganda currently has a total of 90 technical institutes adding that the NRM Government plan is to establish technical institutes in the 282 constituencies.
He invited the German Government to cooperate with Uganda in its efforts to build those institutions.
German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Steinmeier saluted President Museveni and the NRM Government for ensuring stability in Uganda.
He reiterated that Uganda was now experiencing a big change in comparison to what the situation was during the Amin regime.
Regarding regional affairs, the German Minister paid glowing tribute to President Museveni for his efforts towards the establishment of peace and stability in Somalia and the region at large.
Dr. Steinmeier revealed that his delegation included officials involved in business, engineering, culture, mineral resources, legislators, Information Technology (IT) and manufacturing.
He also disclosed that during his current visit to Uganda, he signed a Cooperation Agreement between the German and Ugandan Governments for the construction of the Bukasa Inland Port in Kampala adding that Germany looks forward to further strengthen cooperation with Uganda.
The German Foreign Affairs Minister’s current tour of Africa is the 4th visit to the continent that has taken him to Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sam Kuteesa and the German Ambassador to Uganda, Dr. Christof Blomeyer, attended the meeting.
The New Vision
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