The proposal to relocate the United Nations (UN) from Entebbe
Regional Service Centre has been deferred until the next General Assembly in
September.
Uganda wants to retain the base which provides support for UN
field missions in Africa.
The move to relocate the base was unveiled by United Nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said that Nairobi had been shortlisted
to host the office. The other cities on the list are Budapest-Hungary and
Mexico City.
Patrick Mugoya, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign
Affairs says Uganda has put up a spirited fight for the base, and as a result,
no decision has been made in regards to relocating the base.
Mugoya made the statements on Tuesday during a meeting with
members of the Foreign Affairs committee who were scrutinizing the Ministerial
Policy statement on Foreign Affairs Ministry.
He says that in the last session of the General assembly, Uganda
did its best to ask for the base to remain.
Mugoya also says that retaining the base is top of the Ministry’s priority
for 2019.
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The base is the hub for all administrative, logistical,
information and communications technology services to missions in Africa. It is
supported by 427 approved staff, including 134 international staff, 285 Ugandan
staff and eight UN volunteers.
It is reported that Guterres, had suggested that the centre is
relocated to a city that would provide time zone and regional coverage,
ensuring strong business continuity.
The recommendation was in a report tabled before the UN's Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.
Alex Otto
Freelancer