Uganda was admitted to the membership of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at the Second (II) Summit of Heads of State and Government, held on 5th – 10th October, 1964 in Cairo, Egypt. This was only three years since the founding of the Movement in Belgrade in 1961, and two years since Uganda attained her independence from the British, on 9th October, 1962. Uganda was one of the forty seven (47) Member States to attend the Summit.

Uganda’s decision to join NAM was inspired in great part by the Bandung Principles which the Movement stood for. These principles have served and continue to serve the movement and its membership well. Since Uganda joined the Movement, it has been an active member, and will use its chairmanship of the Movement for the period 2023 – 2026 to further contribute to the aspirations of NAM. Uganda will pay attention to all issues on the NAM agenda, including those outlined in the Vision statement.

Over the last twenty-seven (27) years, the relevance of Uganda’s membership to NAM can be traced from “National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy”, objective XXVIII, of the 1995 Constitution (as amended). Among other things, these principles provides for:

• Respect for international law and treaty obligations;
• Peaceful co-existence and non-alignment;
• Settlement of international disputes by peaceful means; and
• Opposition to all forms of domination, racism and other forms of oppression and exploitation.

They also provide that, Uganda shall actively participate in international and regional organizations that stand for peace, and for the well-being and progress of humanity.

These constitutional provisions are clearly in sync with, and speak to the Movement’s Bandung Principles.