The UN Elects First Ugandan to its Advisory Board

The United Nations (UN) General assembly on November 6, elected Caroline Nalwanga Magambo as a first Ugandan who also becomes the second African woman to serve on this influential committee of the UN, was earlier approved by the Africa Union Group Candidature Committee to become a member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) by acclamation, together with Algeria and Chad.

Ms Nalwanga, a counsellor serving at Uganda’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York has previously served as chair of the Africa Group in the UN fifth Committee during the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly and Head of Division, Europe Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters.

The ACABQ is responsible for expert examination of the program budget of the United Nations, reviewing on behalf of the general assembly, the administrative budgets of the specialised agencies, and proposals for financial arrangements with such agencies, among other duties.

The Advisory Committee is elected by the General Assembly for a period of three years, on the basis of a broad geographical representation. The ACABQ was recently enlarged by a UN resolution from 16 to 21 members, beginning January 2021.

Uganda’s historical appointment to the UN administrative and budget Committee comes at a time when the country is highly credited for its refugee response framework and support to UN operations in the region by hosting the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe (RSCE).