The United Nations Under Secretary-General, Department of Operational Support (DOS), Mr. Atul Khare was in Uganda on a high-level business visit from 2^nd to 4^th March 2023.

Mr. Khare met with the President of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the State House in Entebbe where he commended the head of state on his contribution to peace and security in the region and hosting the Regional Service Center in Entebbe.

During the meeting attended by Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare and Mr. Paulin Djomo, Director, Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE), and the Minister of State for foreign affairs / Regional affairs Hon John Mulimba, President Museveni and the USG discussed matters surrounding the Regional Service Centre Entebbe and its operations in Uganda.

During the same meeting, the President witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United Nations and Uganda that strengthens the operations of the RSCE.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Khare had met with Hon. Victor Sempijja, Minister of Defense in the Ugandan government and discussed matters of security and collaboration between the United Nations Peace Keeping missions and the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) in the field particularly in Somalia where Uganda has a large presence.

During this meeting he commended the Minister and the UPDF on their contribution and congratulated General Silver Kayemba (in attendance) who had been unanimously elected to Chair the Contingency Owned Equipment Group. He pledged his continued support to the peace efforts and collaboration with the UPDF and to address all the matters raised by the Minister.

As part of his visit, Mr. Khare closed the Senior Women Talent Pipeline (SWTP) that was holding a weeklong engagement at the RSCE. He commended the senior women on their attendance and desire to join the UN and to bring their contribution to peace.

SWTP is a career programme and Pipeline under the DOS aimed at promoting gender parity at senior level through a dedicated talent pool of qualified female candidates for P5, D1 and D2 level positions in UN Peace Operations.

He took the opportunity to host a townhall for all RSCE staff where he updated staff on the activities of DOS and announced that he had just signed an updated MOU with Uganda government that shifted the responsibility of the Entebbe Support Base from United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to the RSCE.

He applauded the work done by the RSCE and congratulated the staff on a great job done during the COVID19 pandemic. He also launched the much-anticipated Flexible Working Arrangements (FWA) during the townhall.

“I must emphasize to the managers that the purpose of providing justification for the FWA (Flexible Working Arrangement) are for security purposes. Your focus should be on performance and not on where the staff are.” remarked Atul Khare, Under Secretary General, Department of Operational Support (DOS). The FWA tool developed by the RSCE will help managers manage staff in an efficient manner.

As part of his visit, the USG held closed door discussions with the RSCE Senior Management team, the Field Staff Union and National Staff Association representatives as well as the current Head of Premises, Mr. Ingemar Bjoernfot.