President Museveni on Tuesday met the Ambassadors of the five Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council, plus four non-Permanent Members over the recent ISIL linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacks in Kampala, and subsequent UPDF strikes on ADF camps in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The meeting took place at State House Entebbe.
During the meeting, Museveni emphasized that Muslims of Uganda are not extremists and despise terrorism because they are part of Ugandan society.
“The idea of Islamic extremism was a creation by some opportunistic foreign actors who were defeated, but warned [that] if not handled well, it can become a serious problem.” The president said.
Museveni further stressed that while the ADF claim to be an Islamic group, their ideology is not attractive and has been resented, forcing them to resort to abductions and killings.
The meeting was aimed at sharing views on recent developments in the region, and agree on a common way forward in line with the principle of association with the “holy trinity” which invite action from local, regional and international levels in support of peace and security efforts in the region.
Meanwhile, Museveni reiterated “Africa’s ability to solve African problems through strategic security.”
“I also opined that intervention in the African States by external forces if it must happen should take a TRINITY pattern; let them first solve their issues Internally, let them get help Regionally and if it fails, International intervention,” said Museveni after the meeting.
The Heads of Mission included; Vladlen Semivolos of Russia, Zhang Lizhong of China, Jules-Armand Aniambossou of France, Kate Airey of the United Kingdom and Natalie Brown of the United States.
The non-permanent members included; Kiema Kilonzo of Kenya, Elin Ostebo Johansen of Norway, Ajay Kumar of India, and Kevin Colgan of Ireland.
The meeting was also attended by the Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gen Jeje Odongo, Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Wilson Mbadi, and the Minister of Defence, Vincent Sempijja.
