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President Museveni, through Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at the 79th UN General Assembly, called for Africa to secure permanent seats with veto powers on the UN Security Council, citing the current lack of representation as a “historical injustice.

Uganda, currently chairing the G77+China and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), has intensified calls for Africa to secure permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. President Yoweri Museveni urged the UN General Assembly to address the imbalance by including African countries as permanent members, complete with veto powers. The demand was delivered on his behalf by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at the 79th UN General Assembly in New York.

Currently, the Security Council consists of 15 members, with five permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France. Museveni emphasized that Africa, despite comprising 54 countries, has no permanent representation on the council, a situation he described as a “historical injustice.”

“Uganda reiterates its call for urgent and comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council,” Museveni said. “Africa should be represented in both permanent and non-permanent categories to address this injustice.” He added that African nations should enjoy veto rights, like other permanent members, to ensure their views are properly represented.

Museveni’s statement aligns with the African Union’s Common African Position (CAP), advocating for two permanent and two non-permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council. The Committee of Ten Heads of State, led by Sierra Leone, has been pushing for these reforms since 2005.

The Ugandan president further stressed the importance of global cooperation to ensure equitable development, calling on wealthy nations to remove barriers preventing developing countries from catching up. “We demand the right to development as equal members of the international community,” he noted, adding that economic progress in the Global South should not be subject to political conditions.

Museveni’s message also highlighted the role of sovereign debt in financing sustainable development in low-income countries, urging for concessional loans with zero interest rates to help boost infrastructure and spur economic growth. “Loans to low-income countries should be designed to enhance development without leading to unsustainable debt,” he emphasized.

On climate change, Museveni called for “climate justice,” stressing that developed nations, which have historically profited from high-emission activities, must take the lead in mitigating the impacts. He demanded financial and technological support for developing countries to help them transition to low-emission economies without stalling their development.

The Ugandan delegation to the UNGA included Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo, Justice Minister Norbert Mao, and Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, among others.