On January Friday 26th,2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands issued an interim order urging Israel to stop obstructing aid to Gaza to improve humanitarian support in the area.
Judge Julia Sebutinde, a Ugandan who sits at ICJ in her minority take, ruled against all the six measures of the International Court, and in turn of event, social media became awash with many Global Diplomatic analysts and a section of people in Uganda and internationally calling it a total betrayal of Uganda’s recent positions in the concluded meetings like the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) currently having, President Yoweri Museveni Kaguta as the Chairperson.
This narrative was first trashed by Dr. Adonia Ayebare, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, who doubles as the current Chairperson of the Senior Officials of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
“Justice Sebutinde’s ruling at the International Court of Justice does not represent the Government of Uganda’s position on the situation in Palestine. She has previously voted against Uganda’s case on DRC. Uganda’s support for the plight of the Palestinian people has been expressed through Uganda‘s voting pattern at the United Nations”.
According to Ayebare, it is ‘speculative and purveying conspiracy theories’ to mix Uganda’s position on the situation in Palestine with the Judge’s ruling.
The mixed reactions online also got many people defending the judge for her independent legal take on the matter as well.
Molly Kamukama, the then Principal Private Secretary to the President and former Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Office of the President wrote on her X account on the 26th, of January 2024 that the judge is doing her independent role and not representing the views of the African Folks.
“Why is Justice Julia Sebutinde being bashed? Judges have always written dissenting judgments. Did the judges who ruled against Israel represent the positions of their countries such that explanations are being given that Justice Sebutinde’s ruling doesn’t represent the position of Uganda”. Chris Obore, the Director of Communication of Parliament weighed in the debate.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave a parting shot on the matter:
The Government of Uganda didn’t take the matter lightly and on Saturday,27th,2024 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured the world of ‘Uganda’s commitment association with the Decisions and Positions of the 19th Summit of Heads of State, and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in Kampala on 19th -20th January 2024 as contained in the Kampala Final Outcome Document, and the Political Declaration On Palestine’.
This Official Communication signed by Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs put to rest the campaign on Uganda that Ambassador Dr. Adonia Ayebare calls ‘speculative and purveying conspiracy theories’.
Currently, President Yoweri Museveni Kaguta of Uganda is the Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement and Summit of the Group of 77 and China until 2027.
