KAMPALA, JANUARY 23. During a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda in Kampala, UNAMID and the Government of Uganda exchanged letters on the establishment of a new UNAMID Liaison Office in Entebbe, Uganda.

The Joint Special Representative (JSR) Rodolphe Adada and the Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam K. Kutesa presided over the exchange ceremony. Also in attendance was Mr. Theophane Nikyema United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.

In his statement, the JSR Rodolphe Adada pointed out that UNAMID activities within the framework of its mandate have demonstrated a need for additional logistical arrangements to support the Mission from offices outside Darfur. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Uganda for the support extended to UNAMID to facilitate its mandate. The establishment of the Liaison Office in Entebbe takes place in this context.

In his reply, the Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the exchange of letters underlines Uganda’s commitment to work with the United Nations, the African Union and the International Community to find durable and lasting solutions to conflicts in Africa and elsewhere in the world. He also underscored Uganda’s determination to work with UNAMID to achieve its mandate, goals and objectives. According to this agreement, the Government of Uganda will facilitate the free, unhindered and expeditious movement to Uganda of all personnel, as well as equipment, provisions supplies and other goods, which will be for the exclusive use of the UNAMID Liaison Office at Entebbe. The Government undertook to extend to the UNAMID Liaison Office, its property, funds and assets, personnel and contractors providing services exclusively to UNAMID the privileges and immunities for the fulfillment of its functions as provided in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN to which Uganda is a party without reservation.