Africa-Press – Uganda. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello, held a high-level meeting with H.E. Amb. João Samuel Caholo, the Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), at the Ministry Headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday.
Caholo briefed the Minister on ongoing ICGLR initiatives, including recent expert meetings in Entebbe on environmental governance and natural resources.
These deliberations, he noted, focused on strengthening artisanal and small-scale mining, advancing the Regional Certification Mechanism, and deepening cross-border cooperation in the extractives sector.
Caholo also updated the Minister on the work of the Regional Observatory Mechanism (ROM), for which Uganda assumed Chairmanship in May 2025.
He underscored the importance of a clear and coordinated work plan to reinforce the region’s mining sector, citing flagship projects such as Wagagai Mining Limited.
In addition, their discussions extended to the evolving security situation in the Great Lakes Region and the financial challenges facing ICGLR and their potential implications for regional stability.
Okello reaffirmed Uganda’s unwavering commitment to ICGLR’s objectives of peace, security, and sustainable development.
“Uganda is fully committed to the principles and vision of the ICGLR. We recognise that artisanal and small-scale miners are an integral part of our economy, and we will continue to support them through organised national associations,” he said.
He further noted the importance of regional cooperation in addressing both security and resource management challenges.
“The Great Lakes Region faces complex but surmountable challenges. Through strong collaboration with the ICGLR Secretariat and our partner states, we can promote stability and shared prosperity for our people,” Okello added.
Caholo welcomed Uganda’s leadership role, praising the country’s proactive engagement within the ICGLR framework. He stressed that Uganda’s chairmanship of the ROM would be instrumental in driving forward reforms in the mining sector, enhancing certification standards, and curbing illicit trade in minerals.
The meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming the need for closer partnership between Uganda and the ICGLR Secretariat to strengthen peace, security, and development in the region.
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