Regional Parliamentarians Conduct Fact-Finding Mission in Uganda on Eastern DRC Peace and Security

Rt. Hon. Butete, in her remarks, outlined the mission’s objectives and underscored the necessity of regional leadership in addressing conflicts.

A delegation from the Forum of Parliamentarians in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (PF-ICGLR) has arrived in Uganda as part of a fact-finding mission focused on peace and security in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The delegation, led by Rt. Hon. Nelly Mutti Butete, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia and President of PF-ICGLR, is scheduled to engage with key regional leaders, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

On Monday, March 10, 2025, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, officially welcomed the delegation at Parliament and commended their dedication to regional peace initiatives. Among emphasized Uganda’s commitment to African-led solutions to the continent’s security challenges.

“As Africans, we have always agreed that African problems can only be solved locally. This pursuit that you are undertaking, traveling from country to country and meeting heads of state to find the best path to peace, is a commendable initiative. I applaud you and your team for this effort,” Among stated.

She further reiterated that Uganda remains committed to promoting peace in the DRC, noting that stability in the country is essential for the security of the entire Great Lakes Region.

“Problem-solving is why you are here. We want to see how best peace can be established in the DRC, and that peace can only be achieved with the involvement of our heads of state and through collective African efforts. It starts with us,” Among remarked.

The Speaker also highlighted Uganda’s active participation in PF-ICGLR, emphasizing that the country remains up to date with its financial contributions to the forum.

Rt. Hon. Butete, in her remarks, outlined the mission’s objectives and underscored the necessity of regional leadership in addressing conflicts.

“This is the fourth phase of our fact-finding mission on issues relating to peace and security in the Eastern DRC,” she noted. “Without peace, we cannot interact, and even regional integration cannot prosper. Peace is a fundamental requirement for development.”

Butete emphasized the importance of African nations taking responsibility for their security challenges to prevent external interventions.

“We do not want to invite outsiders to intervene in our affairs when we have responsible leaders within our region who can take charge and guide citizens towards peace and stability,” she asserted.

The delegation’s findings will be compiled and presented at the PF-ICGLR plenary session in April, after which they will be escalated to higher decision-making levels for further discussion. As Butete’s tenure as President of the forum draws to a close, she stressed the need for tangible progress before leadership transitions to Angola.

Uganda continues to play a crucial role in regional peace and security efforts, advocating for African-led solutions to the continent’s challenges. The ongoing engagements reaffirm the commitment of regional leaders to fostering long-term stability in the Great Lakes Region.