Uganda to Host Summit on River Cooperation for Nile Basin Countries

The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment will host a summit aimed at enhancing cooperation among the nations that share the River Nile. The summit to be held in October 2024 will bring together ten heads of state and government leaders from Nile Basin countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

This gathering will be the second summit of its kind since the founding of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) 25 years ago. The conference will also draw a diverse group of decision-makers, technocrats, scholars, and stakeholders to discuss the future of Nile Basin cooperation.

Dr. Florence Grace Adong, the executive director of the NBI, highlighted the importance of this year’s theme: “Unveiling a New Era of Co-operation Hinging on Transformative Investment and Environmental Protection in the Nile Basin.” She emphasized that this summit marks a new chapter in regional collaboration as member states transition to the Nile River Basin Commission, a fully-fledged legal entity designed to replace the NBI.

“The Commission will enable cooperating countries to deliver more in terms of water security, food security, energy security, climate action, environmental conservation, and transboundary governance,” Dr. Adong stated. She noted that the Commission, based in Entebbe, Uganda, will be led by an executive secretary.

The summit will also see the launch of the Nile River Basin Investment Program, an initiative that aims to boost cooperation on the use, development, and conservation of the Nile. South Sudan's recent accession to the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) on August 1, 2024, has added momentum to these efforts.

Dr. Adong further mentioned that since the ratification of the CFA by Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania in 2010, all six necessary instruments of ratification or accession have been secured, allowing the CFA to come into effect.

The Nile, which stretches 6,695 kilometers and serves as a crucial water source for 11 countries, impacts the lives of approximately 560 million people. Covering 10% of the African continent, the Nile Basin is home to 227 million people, nearly a quarter of Africa's population.

The upcoming summit is seen as a crucial step in fostering unity and collaboration among Nile Basin nations, ensuring sustainable development and environmental protection for generations to come.