Entebbe (Uganda), 18 February 2020 - The United Nations Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes, Huang Xia, met with Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, at the country’s State House in Entebbe on 18 February to discuss strategies on how to boost greater development and cooperation among the countries of the region.

Mr. Xia briefed the President on the 10^th Regional Oversight Mechanism meeting of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region in Kinshasa sometime this year. He also noted that the UN was steadfast in supporting the countries of the Great Lakes region in their efforts to bring peace to the region.

On the political situation, Mr. Xia noted that the governments in the region had made an effort in upholding democracy. He said the UN and the region must work hand in hand to ensure that democracy is maintained in electoral processes.

The Special Envoy was also happy to note that within the Great Lakes region, Uganda is one of the most influential countries with an efficient Human Rights Commission.

The meeting took place days before the 4^th Quadripartite Summit to be held at the Uganda-Rwanda border on 21 February. Last October, members of the UN Security Council were briefed by Mr. Xia about the positive developments in the Great Lakes region, particularly the diplomatic efforts facilitated by Presidents João Manuel Gonçalves Laurence of Angola and Félix Antoine Tshiluba Tshisekedi of the DRC to try to resolve tensions between Uganda and Rwanda.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the 21 August Memorandum of Understanding between President Museveni and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. They looked forward to its implementation, which will help boost the two countries' economic and political relations for the benefit of the whole region.