The 19th Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) commenced on October 29, 2024, at the Presidential Pavilion B3 in Bujumbura. This significant meeting focuses on critical discussions surrounding peace and security in the region. Key agenda items include a report from the Committee on Peace and Security, the candidacy for the African Development Bank, and the launch of the COMESA Mediation Strategy.
The meeting is part of a series of activities leading up to the 23rd Summit of COMESA Heads of State and Government, which will take place on October 31, 2024. On October 28, the 17th COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition was held, setting the stage for the upcoming Summit. The theme for this year’s Summit is “Accelerating Regional Integration through the Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism,” reflecting Uganda’s ambition to attain upper middle-income status by 2040.
Recognizing that peace and security are foundational for fostering regional integration, the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers and the accompanying Business Forum highlight the importance of sustainable peace in creating a conducive environment for private sector growth.
This Summit marks a milestone as it will be the first convening of Heads of State and Government following the conclusion of negotiations for the EAC-SADC-COMESA Tripartite Free Trade Area, which came into effect in July 2024. Uganda, which hosted the inaugural EAC-SADC-COMESA Tripartite Meeting in 2008, remains committed to enhancing the Tripartite Free Trade Area by ensuring effective implementation and maximizing benefits for Member States within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
COMESA continues to serve as a vital export market for Uganda, accounting for over 60% of its global trade. This relationship presents Uganda with the opportunity to further harness its trade potential while benefiting from initiatives aimed at increasing industrial productivity, enhancing agricultural output and food security, harmonizing monetary and financial policies, and improving transport and communication infrastructure.
Leading Uganda’s delegation to the 23rd COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit will be Her Excellency Maj. (rtd) Mrs. Jessica Alupo R.E., Vice President of Uganda. She will be accompanied by Hon. Francis Mwebesa, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives; Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, Minister of State for Tourism; Amb. Richard Tumusiime Kabonero, Head of Regional Economic Cooperation; Amb. Fred Mwesigye, Permanent Representative to COMESA and Uganda’s High Commissioner in Tanzania; and Amb. Matayo Kyaligonza, Head of Uganda’s Mission in Bujumbura, among other officials.
