Uganda’s President Museveni has held a couple of bilateral meetings with fellow regional leaders, their discussions being dominated by themes of security, integration and how to strengthen economic ties at the end of the 32nd Summit of African Union Heads of State.
In a meeting with newly-elected Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President, Felix Tshisekedi, Mr Museveni first congratulated him on his victory in the December 2018 elections, adding: “Elections are dangerous if not handled carefully. To hold a successful election, one must be morally on the right.”
President Museveni told his colleague that Uganda has security concerns about the presence of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists in Eastern DRC and would appreciate if the Kinshasa government helped uproot them. In his response, Mr. Tshisekedi promised to work with Uganda to resolve the ADF menace, saying, “we will settle the matter jointly.” He also asked President Museveni to support him as he seeks to build a broad government, which will work for the economic success and political stability of the DR Congo.
The two leaders also discussed the issue of the Ebola outbreak in Eastern Congo, with the Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwiine, indicating that the threat had been controlled. In a meeting with Somalia’s President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Mr Museveni advised the former’s government to create a local loyal, voluntary military militia willing to protect and pacify the country, which gradually can grow into an affordable National Army in two years.
