UGANDA A Multilateral Approach to World Issues An Interview with The Honorable Sam K. Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Uganda and President of the 69th United Nations General Assembly

It’s playing the role but it can do more, be- with United Nations Framework Convention on cause there is now an increasing need for multi- Climate Change (UNFCCC) has set up a mecha- lateralism rather than unilateralism, and there is nism that will be holding meetings in Peru and greater need for a coalition to be formed around subsequently in Paris where we hope to con- the world. When you talk about issues like cli- clude an internationally binding agreement by mate change and economic development, the December of next year. This will be the real The Hon. Sam K. Kutesa best organizations to work with are multilateral measure of success. institutions such as the UN, the World Bank, How should the UN approach its role EDITORS’ NOTE Sam Kutesa is a businessman and IMF. in confl ict resolution? and a lawyer by profession. He has held his What interested you in overseeing the It’s important to do a number of things: current post since January 13, 2005. He is also 69th session and how do you envision the one is to have an early warning mechanism the elected Member of Parliament (MP) for role will pan out? that enables us to identify and prevent con- “Mawogola County,” Sembabule District. There is an increasing need for a multilat- fl icts that are about to arise. But in the event He holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree and eral approach to world issues, and this is what that these confl icts do occur, it is important to also holds the Diploma in Legal Practice from I think I should be doing within the United seek resolution while simultaneously pursuing the Law Development Center in Kampala. From Nations as its current President: to encour- peace-building. 1973 until 2001, Kutesa was in private law prac- age coalitions, to encourage all of us moving In my experience, particularly in Africa tice and served as a Member of Parliament (MP) together, because the world issues that confront over the past 10 years, I have seen that, if you for Mbarara North Constituency between 1980 us are best solved with a multilateral approach. take on confl ict resolution, you must simultane- until 1985. He was Attorney General between You have touched on some areas you ously focus on peace-building. 1985 and 1986. He served as a delegate to want to focus on further, the fi rst being the Not only must you resolve the confl ict, but the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Post-2015 Development Agenda. Would you also you must begin to rebuild by addressing Ugandan Constitution. Kutesa was elected MP describe those efforts and what needs to be social and economic development, and address- for Mawogola County in 2001 and re-elected in done to make sure it’s implemented? ing the real issues that caused the confl ict in the 2006 and again in 2011. The Post-2015 Agenda is replacing the mil- fi rst place. lennium development goals, which were set So peace-building and confl ict resolution As President of the 69th United Nations up in 2000. There were eight goals; currently, must be undertaken simultaneously. General Assembly session, how would you a working group focused on a new round of How critical is it to have systems in describe the purpose and mission of the goals to succeed the MDG’s has come up with place to ensure that dialogue becomes ac- UN assembly? a proposal of 17 new goals. There is another tual progress? The United Nations was set up soon after working group that has been fi guring out how After passing resolutions, the UN needs to the Second World War, which took many lives to fi nance the implementation of these goals ensure implementation. I hope that we can have and caused much destruction in the world. and yet another working group that is focused a review of the implementation on the resolu- It was set up for three main purposes: to on transfer of technology and capacity build- tions we have passed, so as to evaluate how maintain world peace and security; to deal with ing. All of these groups are making reports to they have been implemented either by member economic and social development; and to main- the Secretary General who, in turn will submit states or institutions of the United Nations. It’s tain the rule of law. recommendations on how to implement and fi - possible to have a review mechanism so that we As a result, they set up six institu- nance this agenda to my offi ce and the General can continuously monitor implementation – this tions: the Security Council; the UN General Assembly. is one thing I want to introduce. Assembly, with all 193 member countries Is enough being done on climate change Do you need to establish metrics to in the world; ECOSOC, which deals with and how will you evaluate the success of track progress in these areas? economic and social issues; Trusteeship, for the session when it comes to addressing Yes, we have to fi gure out who is taking countries that have not yet gotten indepen- this issue? care of what and we need to give everyone dence; the International Court of Justice in the Climate change is going to be one of the timelines. Then, if something hasn’t been done, Hague; and the Secretariat. defi ning issues of our times, and I’m encour- we have to see the reasons and be able to solve The purpose was to deal with the things aged by the growing appetite to reach an inter- it that way. It’s important to have metrics to that had gone wrong before the beginning of nationally binding agreement. In the past, we track achievement. the Second World War and to prevent the re-oc- have had failures, but there is now a clear un- In addressing the major challenges currence of such wars and human catastrophe. derstanding of the importance of dealing with facing the world, will assistance need to In its operations, it has six committees issues of climate change. The world has expe- come from a public/private partnership dealing with issues from fi nance to the social rienced unprecedented droughts and fl oods, and does the private sector need to be en- and political realm. rising sea levels, and a host of other climate gaged more in their resolution? Is the UN playing the role it was set change-related tragedies. In an effort to deal Absolutely. Right now, when we talk about up to do? with this existential threat, the UN together fi nancing development, we are talking about VOLUME 37, NUMBER 4 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 309 official development assistance (ODA). But They are increasingly coming to under- Returns in Africa are about 30 percent, even if all of these commitments of ODA were stand these things. In the past, diplomacy was which is higher than anywhere in the world. fulfi lled, it would still be insuffi cient to bring focused on talking about your country and in- The opportunities are abundant, so one should about transformative change. Even if all devel- troducing it to other countries. But as we stand be able to attract the private sector to come to oped countries paid the amount of money today in the world, diplomacy has changed to Africa. pledged by them, that would not be more than commercial diplomacy, where diplomats and Are the right changes being made to $190 billion per annum and a transformative even the UN must now promote commercial re- attract those who are concerned about the agenda requires about $1.8 trillion per annum. lations among nations and, even more so, work security of their investments? Therefore, to fi nance this agenda, we need toward a greater international trade regime that They have been made – Africa is more to get the private sector involved. However, the enables countries to have market access and secure now than ever before. There are more private sector doesn’t do things for charity – the technology transfer to help growing middle democracies in Africa now and more legal re- private sector does things for profi t. So we need classes in all parts of the world, which is actu- gimes that protect foreign investors. There is now to be imaginative in fi nding ways to incentivize ally in the interest of business – to create more greater understanding of the role of the private the private sector to come in and make sure consumers. sector than there was in the past. So the oppor- they not only make a profi t but they also help tunities are enormous. fi nance this agenda. I would encourage those investing in Africa How valuable is your extensive back- for its raw materials, however, to add value to ground for your role in leading the General those raw materials within Africa so that they Assembly? create employment. This is the direction that It will be helpful because I have been in- We need most African governments are taking. volved in negotiations as Minister of Finance What advantages does Uganda offer? for my country with the World Bank and with Uganda is very centrally located. We are IMF. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have been to create a global part of the East African community, which is involved in a lot of bilateral discussions and made up of fi ve countries; with a population of agreements to resolve confl icts within my own about 150 million people, which is a big mar- region in Africa. It puts me in a good state to be partnership among ket; we have one customs union; we have a at this high level. It’s a good opportunity but a common market; and if you invest in Uganda, challenge as well. you can have free movement of goods and ser- You began your career as a lawyer but business, the public vices within this territory and community. Also, have also been involved in the commercial Uganda has a lot of natural resources, and a business world. How did your early business sector, and civil very skilled and educated population. career affect your path towards public service? There are many opportunities for both in- From 1976 to 1979, I worked as the in-house dustry and services. We have a huge mineral legal counsel for a wealthy multinational com- society. sector. We have now discovered oil and gas in pany called Lonrho East Africa. It was there that our country, and we are looking for people to I participated in making business and commer- invest in these sectors. We also have tremen- cial decisions on behalf of the company. I also dous opportunity in agriculture. learned that public service and private business Infrastructure development is also an in- are inseparable because the government shapes vestment opportunity – we’re building railroads policies and if they don’t take into account the How will you use your experience as and roads, and upgrading airports, so private interests of private business, they make mistakes a business manager in presiding over the sector investors take advantage of this opportu- because government depends on revenues col- United Nations General Assembly? nity as well. lected from the private sector. So rather than be During my term as President of the General Furthermore, we have a growing service an obstruction, government should be a facilitator Assembly, we need to create a global partner- sector and tourism sector, which provide a num- to the private sector. This is the only way to have ship among business, the public sector, and civil ber of opportunities. a smart partnership and, therefore, it has shaped society, and actually encourage entrepreneur- For someone with private sector expe- my belief in my own public service. ship to create more jobs and growth opportu- rience, what excited you about getting in- Has your business experience influ- nities. This is particularly important given the volved in government? enced your thinking about what the proper fact that we shall be dealing with the Post-2015 From my young days as a student, I have role of government is with regard to regu- Development Agenda, which involves creating been interested in public service. I’ve always lation over the private business sector, as a transformative agenda that has a universal ap- thought I had a role in serving my country well as in terms of promoting trade and plication and creates inclusive growth for all. and I have felt I have an obligation to trying to investment in Uganda? I believe my experience in business man- change things for the better. It is important to know that the private agement will assist in creating this global part- When you look at the progress Uganda sector and the government are not adversaries; nership along with others. has made, do you take the time to appreci- in fact, they supplement each other’s efforts. Is there a strong understanding of the ate its accomplishments? Policies must be pro-business to attract in- opportunities that exist business-wise in Our country has seen tremendous posi- vestment, create jobs, and employ people, as Africa? tive change over the past 28 years, with the well as to collect even more revenue in terms There is not enough international aware- revival of our economy and the implemen- of taxes from these businesses. So I’m pro-busi- ness and there needs to be more work done tation of policies both internal and foreign ness and I promote policies that support busi- to attract foreign investment to Africa. The op- that have helped us take great strides in its ness because it’s mutually supportive. portunities in Africa now are enormous, espe- growth. I’m thankful I have been able to Do you think diplomats who serve the cially in sectors such as natural resources, play a part in this transformation. Of course, United Nations and other international in- infrastructure, electricity, and telecom. More I also look at times when there have been stitutions understand what people need to importantly, there is now a more stable legal challenges and how things could have gone do in order to start a business, to provide regime in most countries in Africa to protect better. But I believe on the whole, I’ve been products and services to customers, and to foreign investment, and this is key to attracting lucky to play a role in the transformation of create job opportunities? foreign investment. my country.• 310 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 37, NUMBER 4