Uganda, 1969

1. Madam President, allow me to

congratulate you most warmly on your election to the high

office of President of this Assembly. Your election reflects

the important role which the women of Africa are

determined to play in the international community. We

wish you a most successful term of office.

2. For the first time in several years, the General Assembly

is not admitting a new member. The absence this year of

the admission of a new member does not reflect work well

done, but rather a regrettable setback for the United

Nations in its sacred task of ensuring that colonialism is

dead. This session must therefore ensure that this setback is

only a temporary one. We must ensure that the still

unfinished task of bringing freedom and human dignity to

all people is not forgotten but is carried on and successfully

completed.

3. Indeed, the urgent problem facing Africa is precisely

the issue of colonialism and racial discrimination. The

forces of colonialism in Africa are becoming more firmly

entrenched. The South African régime has strengthened its

arsenals of war. With this continually increasing strength

the South African régime has gone further to consolidate its

abominable rule of tyranny over the Territory of Namibia,

completely ignoring the overwhelming opinion of mankind

as expressed in numerous resolutions of the United Nations.

Indeed, the United Nations has brought ridicule upon itself

by its failure to implement its decisions on Namibia and to

save it from the grabbing hand of the Pretoria clique which

wishes to usurp it and permanently enslave its people.

4. To the north, in spite of the gallant struggle being

waged by the freedom fighters in Mozambique, Angola and

Guinea (Bissau), Portugal has built up confidence and is

now striving to consolidate itself, since it sees this as the

only way to continue exploiting the riches of Africa and

thus save its crumbling economy. Any success it has

achieved in fighting the forces of African nationalism has

been carried out only through the massive economic and

military assistance which it obtains from its allies. It is this

same assistance that sustains the economy and military

strength of South Africa. It is for this reason that we appeal

to all countries which profess to be opposed to the evils of

colonialism and racial discrimination to stop giving military

and financial assistance to Portugal and South Africa.

5. The South African régime has also made a determined

and persistent thrust northwards. On the one hand, it is

seeking to strengthen its allies in Rhodesia and the

Portuguese-controlled Territories of Angola and Mozambique

and, on the other, it is out to establish puppet

régimes in independent African States through deceit and

subversion. We do not consider that these gestures are

genuine, friendly and calculated to achieve the dignity of

the black man on our continent. These gestures are

calculated to extend the unacceptable philosophy of the

superiority of one race. To make matters worse, those who

resist this pressure and stand firm on the principles of

equality and human dignity are being threatened with

increasing subversion and open aggression from South

Africa and Portugal.

6. This year Portugal has attacked Guinea and threatened

lives and property in that State. This is in addition to the

constant attacks that have been made on Zambia and the

United Republic of Tanzania. We have no doubt that these

acts of aggression will continue unless strong measures are

taken by the Security Council to contain the situation. The

stage is thus being set for the final confrontation between

the minority racist régimes and the independent African

States. The world, however, cannot afford to stand-by as a

passive observer: It is not for love of war but because of

their commitment to the principles of human equality and

dignity that independent African States are opposed to

colonialism and racial discrimination, which is being

practised in South Africa. It is also on the basis of their

commitment to those universally accepted principles that

independent African States appeal to other Members of the

United Nations for support. The dignity of all men is

destroyed when a section of humanity is denied its rights.

Above all, without an acceptance of and a commitment to

the principles of human dignity, equality and self-determination,

there can be no basis for peace and justice in the world.

7. In April 1969 the Heads of State and Government of

East and Central Africa, desirous of spelling out their

attitude and purpose in relation to the problems existing in

southern Africa, adopted in Lusaka a Manifesto on Southern

Africa. Earlier this month this Manifesto was unanimously

adopted in Addis Ababa by the Assembly of Heads

of State and Government of the Organization of African

Unity at its sixth session. The Lusaka Manifesto is an

affirmation of the principles of justice, equality and human

dignity. In it the African leaders have stated that they wish

to make clear beyond all shadow of doubt their acceptance

of the belief that all men are equal and have the right to

human dignity. These are the same sentiments as those to

which the United Nations Charter is committed. The

Manifesto defines the attitude of independent African

States to the racist régime in South Africa and to the

philosophy of apartheid. It explains in very clear terms the

alternatives before independent African States and before

the liberation movements in southern Africa. The Manifesto

highlights the serious situation existing in the region and

the threat to and deep concern of the independent African

States. It was for that reason that the Assembly of Heads of

State and Government of the Organization of African Unity

charged its present Chairman, the President of Cameroon,

with the duty of presenting the Manifesto to the United

Nations General Assembly. We sincerely hope that this

Assembly will fully appreciate the spirit in which the

Manifesto was conceived and reaffirm its belief in the

principles to be found in the United Nations Charter by

adopting the Manifesto. Those principles have almost been

lost sight of in Rhodesia.

8. In Rhodesia, as we foresaw and feared, we are now

witnessing the final abandonment by the United Kingdom

of its responsibility. Another apartheid-style régime is being

created while the United Kingdom Government is passively

sitting with its arms folded in complacency. It is now four

years since the unilateral declaration of independence and

all we have heard from the United Kingdom is that force

must not be used and that sanctions will soon bring about a

change of heart among the racists and eventually lead them

to return to legality and accept majority rule. We say the

world has waited long enough. Sanctions have failed, owing

to the support which the South African régime and.

Portugal have given. At the same time Smith and his

colleagues have in fact entrenched their positions and they

are adopting even more extreme measures to safeguard

white supremacy and the enslavement of the Africans who

constitute the majority in that country.

9. While Smith is introducing an apartheid-style constitution,

all that the United Kingdom Government is prepared

to do is remove its futile representative and suitably honour

him for his services. From now on Rhodesia is no different

from South Africa and only over-all action against all the

minority régimes in southern Africa can hope to be

successful. Therefore, the United Nations should not listen

to, and be deceived by, those who preach half-hearted

measures. We urge the Security Council to face up to its

responsibilities and take strong measures to halt the rapidly

deteriorating situation. Until that is done, independent

African States have no choice but to support the liberation

movements in their armed struggle against those régimes.

The Security Council, as the primary organ of the United

Nations charged with the maintenance of international

peace and security, has a responsibility to perform and

should have sufficient courage to take the necessary action.

The racists should not be allowed on the one hand to reject

the cherished principles of justice and equality and on the

other to benefit through friendly international relations

which are based on those very same principles. Without

action by the Security Council, peace in Africa will remain

threatened and insecure.

10. The failure of the members of the Security Council,

particularly the permanent members, who are responsible

for peace and security in the world, to divorce themselves

from siding with those who threaten peace and security is

the main reason for the continued worsening of the world

situation and the inability of the United Nations to perform

its functions effectively. As we approach the twenty-fifth

anniversary of the United Nations, the role of the Security

Council is a matter that needs examination.

11. It is most disturbing to find that in all major conflicts

threatening international peace and security, the permanent

members of the Security Council, who should always be on

the side of peace, are the ones fanning the flames of war.

When those most responsible for peace and security are so

committed on the side of war, how can they at the same

time effectively play the role of mediator and peace-maker?

Is it any wonder that the United Nations has

become powerless and is not playing a major role in the

preservation of peace and security? We must emphasize

that the permanent members of the Security Council must

play an impartial role. The taking of sides in any major

conflict is bound to aggravate the situation and spread

tension rather than establish conditions for the settlement

of disputes.

12. What lessons can we learn by looking at the major

conflicts in the world? The tragic civil war in Nigeria, the

Middle East conflict and the war in Viet-Nam all clearly

teach us one lesson. In Nigeria, as in the Middle East and

Viet-Nam, the major Powers who are the permanent

members of the Security Council, and who should be on

the side of peace, are actively involved with one party or

another in all these wars.

13. The situation in Nigeria is being greatly aggravated by

the presence of foreign interests on both sides of the civil

war. We believe that a peaceful solution can be achieved

through negotiations so long as outside Powers are not

involved.

14. The situation in the Middle East could also be quickly

solved if all the big Powers were firmly committed to

finding a peaceful and just solution. Again, it is most

regrettable that some of the members of the Security

Council are not devoid of self-interest in this matter and are

for selfish reasons actively arming the warring parties. How

then can these Powers help to find peace? We patiently

wait to hear of any success that may be achieved through

the talks of the big Powers now taking place.

15. Similarly, in the case of the Viet-Nam war, we find

that the failure of the permanent members of the Security

Council to have a common approach to peace is largely

responsible for the continuation of this most tragic and

costly war. Mankind has waited most patiently to hear the

results of the Paris peace talks. We therefore cannot

emphasize enough the urgent necessity of reaching an

agreement and establishing lasting peace in Viet-Nam.

16. The problems of achieving peace and security in the

world require realism on the part of the permanent

members of the Security Council. It is an inescapable fact

that no permanent solution of the problems of disarmament,

nor those of world peace, can be found while a large

section of mankind is excluded from this world body. This

year, when mankind salutes the great scientific achievement

of setting the first man on the moon, it is high time that a

sense of realism was adopted towards the major problems

facing mankind here on earth. It is unfortunate to pretend

that a Government which controls and represents the

largest nation in the world does not exist. Most important

of all, this same nation now possesses means of massive

destruction. We must again state that it is in the interest of

peace and security that the People’s Republic of China

Should become a Member of the United Nations.

17. The problems of peace are also the problems of human

development. His Holiness the Pope, on his arrival in

Uganda for his historic visit to Africa, appropriately stated

that “Development is the new name for peace“. As we

approach the Second United Nations Development Decade,

we should bear in mind these wise words. It is impossible to

have any lasting peace when the world is divided into the

rich and the poor, just as it is impossible to have any

meaningful development when there is no peace. Poverty

cannot be eradicated by, the poor alone. While it is

imperative that the developing countries play their role, a

great responsibility rests with the economically advanced

regions. That is why we have persistently called upon those

countries to eliminate the discriminatory obstacles which

impede the development of the poor regions.

18. Permanent members of the Security Council, who are

primarily responsible for peace and security, are also

members of the Economic and Social Council, the principal

organ of the United Nations for economic and social

development. It is therefore imperative that those countries

should be on the side of both peace and economic

development. It is a fact that poverty still remains the most

noticeable and most regrettable characteristic of this world

in this modern age. Next year, we shall not only be

celebrating the silver jubilee of the formation of this

organization, but perhaps what is most significant and vital

to Africa is that we shall be entering the Second United

Nations Development Decade. It is therefore fitting that we

examine the role of the United Nations and see how we can

eliminate areas of weakness and make the United Nations

and its agencies more effective.

19. The developing countries are making great attempts to

help themselves to uplift their standard of living. In our

continent, the Organization of African Unity and regional

bodies such as the East African Community have attempted

to increase trade among Member countries and promote

regional co-operation in economic and social spheres. The

practical meaning that the United Nations can give this

activity is to realize that Africa wants to play its full role in

eradicating social and economic evils. We wish to see the

United Nations playing a bigger role and working clearly

and very closely with the Organization of African Unity in

meeting Africa’s aspirations in economic spheres.

20. This year, the Organization of African Unity has

played an increasingly effective role in economic and social

development. It should however be helped by the United

Nations and its agencies. This help can be channelled

through growing participation in the institutions of the

Organization of African Unity, such as the African Development

Bank, and through greater co-operation from the

Economic Commission for Africa.

21. We in Uganda look to the United Nations and its

agencies for active assistance in building our infrastructure.

The United Nations and its agencies should not be

contented merely with producing feasibility studies which

yield no productive results. We expect them to co-operate

in the provision of finance for development. It is in this

way that we shall appreciate the role of multilateral

agencies. It is by determined efforts to understand Africa’s

development needs that the United Nations economic role

will be measured in the coming development decade.

22. It is imperative to educate world opinion about the

growing problems created by a continuing divided world of

the poor and the rich. In order to do this, the United

Nations, and particularly its Secretariat and officials, should

themselves fully appreciate the problems they are required

to tackle. The senior officials of the United Nations and its

agencies should make a point of familiarizing themselves

with the problems of development, by physically visiting us

in our environment, discussing development priorities and

examining how best they can assist in meeting our goals It

is paradoxical that while policy-makers find it necessary to

come here every year and discuss these issues, very few

visits are made by top officials of the United Nations

Secretariat and the United Nations agencies to developing

countries where these problems could be examined on the

spot. In the Second Development Decade we expect the

United Nations and its agencies to move away from

preoccupation with theory, and instead actively to deal.

with practical problems to be found in the field. The top

officials of the United Nations, the World Bank, the United

Nations Development Programme and all the major agencies

of the United Nations should, regularly for this purpose,

make a point of visiting all the developing countries,

especially those in Africa.

23. Uganda welcomed the initiative taken by the President

of the World Bank to send the Pearson Commission on

International Development to discuss the role of the World

Bank in meeting the challenge of economic development.

We want to see other organizations, such as the United

Nations Industrial Development Organization, following

this example. We in Uganda are confident that industrialization

is essential to our development. We are therefore most

anxious to see the United Nations Industrial Development

Organization functioning effectively, making itself familiar

with our programmes and actively assisting us to meet the

challenge of development.

24. We consider that there is great potential in Africa for

the good of mankind. In order fully to utilize this potential,

the world must take Africa seriously. In the case of the

problems that face us in southern Africa, we expect

co-operation and understanding. In the Nigerian conflict we

expect permanent members of the Security Council to be

on the side of peace. In the case of economic development,

we expect the developed countries not to build obstacles

and apply restrictive measures but to be the vanguard for

increased trade and co-operation between developed and

developing countries. The future of mankind is interdependent

and no section can be left behind and ignored

without seriously affecting the well-being and prosperity of

the rest. This is the only way we can make the Second

United Nations Development Decade meaningful.