We welcome the progress achieved with regard to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) worldwide.
The Convention remains the only multilaterally-negotiated, non-discriminatory and internationally-verifiable instrument for the destruction of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons must, therefore, act without fear or favor in achieving the objectives.
I urge those states in Africa and world over that are yet to accede to the Convention to do so as a matter of urgency. As you are aware, Uganda does not possess, produce or have stockpiles of chemical weapons.
However, the support from the Technical Secretariat in the implementation of the programme for Africa has continued to infuse the necessary skills and capacity building within the implementation of the Convention which will assist my country in its economic development.
With regard to the East African Community (EAC) Chemical Emergency Response, Planning and Management Mechanism, the Uganda delegation and the EAC region are pleased with the development of this important mechanism in the region.
We commend the OPCW, especially the Assistance and Protection Branch, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and the USA, among other partners, for their continued cooperation and support in making this essential mechanism a reality for us.
In this regard, Uganda hosted members from States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in East African region for an operational training in emergency response to chemical incident or attack.
The training took place in Jinja, Uganda from November 14 to 18, 2016. The objective of the training was to equip the participants with knowledge and skills in handling emergencies involving toxic chemicals. The training was facilitated by experts from the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
A total of 45 participants from Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda were trained. Representatives of East African Community (EAC), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) attended as observers.
I take this opportunity to thank the governments of Czech Republic and United Kingdom for the provision of financial and technical support to the EAC region under the program for Assistance and Protection.
The equipment for the training was donated by the Czech Republic and remained at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Coordination Centre (URDCC) after the training. The equipment shall be effectively used in further capacity building in the region.
In this regard, Uganda proposes that the OPCW includes this activity in their calendar as an annual event so that the equipment donated is used appropriately to develop the capacity in the region and in Africa at large.
Uganda would like to see the full implementation of Article eleven (XI) through substantial assistance to non-possessor states in order to enable them develop chemical capacity and industry.
This will facilitate the developing countries to view the Convention as a relevant tool and as a catalyst for economic development through the unlimited use of chemicals for peaceful purposes not prohibited in the Convention.
In this respect, Uganda welcomes the development of concrete measures to ensure the promotion of international cooperation in the field of chemical activities through the exchange of scientific and technical information.
I would like to recognise the efforts of the Technical Secretariat staff of the OPCW who have in the recent past organised training courses, and sensitization workshops where Ugandan nationals have participated. I take this opportunity to recognize the new initiative codenamed “Influential Visitors’ Programme” for which Uganda was the first beneficiary last year.
It was after this program that our members of parliament were able to understand the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention and later discussed and approved the Toxic Chemicals Prohibition and Control Act, 2016. I encourage States Parties who have not yet put in place legislative measures to domesticate the Convention to explore avenues in the “Influential Visitors Programme’’.
We urge the Technical Secretariat to continue with its activities and programmes aimed at advancing Article Seven (VII) implementation. In this regard, we support tailor-made approaches taking into account the different States Parties’ circumstances in order to achieve the objectives of the Convention.
I appreciate the director general’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with African States Parties through the Africa Programme. My country, which is a beneficiary of the programme, looks forward to continued cooperation with the Technical Secretariat in order to strengthen the programme through new initiatives and actions.
This is an abridged version of a statement given by Pius Bigirimana, the permanent secretary for ministry of gender, labour and social development, at the 21st session of the Conference of the States Parties (csp-21 ) on Chemical Weapons Convention at The Hague, the Netherlands.