Uganda has officially affirmed its recognition of the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) order in the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel. The Ugandan government has explicitly distanced itself from the dissenting judgment put forth by Judge Julia Sebutinde.
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, asserted that Uganda stands in agreement with the ICJ's order, which mandates Israel to prevent acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip. The decision aligns with the stance taken at the 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), hosted in Kampala on January 19-20, 2024.
During the summit, the Heads of State and Government of the NAM strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military campaign against the Palestinian people. The leaders deplored the reported death toll of over 21,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip between October and December 2023.
Judge Julia Sebutinde, however, dissented from the majority opinion in the ICJ order. She argued that the Israel-Palestine dispute is fundamentally political and historical, advocating for a diplomatic or negotiated settlement. According to her, the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions by all parties involved would pave the way for a peaceful coexistence between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. Judge Sebutinde asserted that the matter is not a legal dispute suitable for judicial settlement.
In response to the dissenting opinion, PS Bagiire Vincet Waiswa clarified, "The Government categorically clarifies that the position taken by Judge Sebutinde is her own individual and independent opinion, and does not in any way, reflect the position of the Government of the Republic of Uganda."
The NAM, echoing the sentiments of the ICJ order, called for an immediate cessation of Israeli military aggression and the siege on the Gaza Strip. Additionally, they urged for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of the Palestinian civilian population and facilitate reconstruction and recovery, in line with recent Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
Furthermore, the NAM rejected any attempts at forcible transfer and deportation of Palestinians from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, emphasizing that such actions would constitute a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions. Uganda's endorsement of these resolutions underscores its commitment to the pursuit of peace and justice in the region.
OFICIAL UGANDAN STATEMENT ON THE ORDER BY THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE IN THE GAZA STRIP (SOUTH AFRICA v. ISRAEL)
The Government of Uganda takes note of the Order by the International Court of Justice, issued on 26th January, 2024 with regard to a case by the Republic of South Africa, on the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.
In this regard, the Government of Uganda affirms its association with the decisions and positions of the recently concluded 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held in Kampala on 19 – 20 January, 2024, as contained in the Kampala Final Outcome Document, and the Political Declaration on Palestine. Among other things, the Heads of State and Government of the NAM:
• Condemned the continuing Israeli military campaign against the defenseless Palestinian people, and deplored the killing of over 21,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the period between October and December 2023, over 70% of whom were children and women, and the wounding and maiming of over 55,000 Palestinian children, women and men in bombardments by air, land and sea by the Israeli occupying forces, as well as ongoing attacks by occupying forces and settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, that killed over 300 Palestinians, including 79 children, and wounded more than 3,800 people in the same period, in addition to the killing of 200 other Palestinians in 2023.
• Called for an immediate end to the Israeli military aggression and siege on the Gaza Strip and for immediate, unimpeded and sufficient humanitarian assistance at scale, to meet the enormous needs of the Palestinian civilian population and to enable urgently needed reconstruction and recovery, especially of homes and vital infrastructure, including in particular of hospitals, schools and water, sanitation and electricity networks, in accordance with the recent Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on this matter.
• Rejected any individual or mass forcible transfer and deportation of Palestinians from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including to any other country, which amounts to a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions.
The Government of Uganda further notes the opinion of Judge Julia Sebutinde on the matter. The Government categorically clarifies that, the position taken by Judge Sebutinde is her own individual and independent opinion, and does not in any way, reflect the position of the Government of the Republic of Uganda.
Bagiire Vincet Waiswa
PERMANENT SECRETARY
