By Diana Kintu
Uganda’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sam Kutesa, has been appointed to a new High-Level Panel of Eminent Experts established by the African Union (AU). The appointment was confirmed by the AU Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
The panel has been created to review the African Union’s Governance, Peace, and Security Framework, one of the AU’s most important policy instruments. This framework guides member states in promoting democratic governance and the rule of law, strengthening political and institutional stability, preventing and resolving conflicts before they escalate into crises, and coordinating continental responses to security threats such as terrorism, civil wars, or unconstitutional changes of government.
By setting up the panel, the AU aims to ensure that its governance and peace mechanisms remain effective and relevant in addressing Africa’s evolving challenges.
Hon. Sam Kutesa brings more than four decades of diplomatic and political experience. He served as Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs for 16 years (2005–2021), where he was deeply engaged in regional integration efforts, peace negotiations, and partnerships with international organisations.
Kutesa also gained global recognition when he served as President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from 2014 to 2015. This role gave him first-hand experience in multilateral diplomacy, coalition-building, and global governance — skills directly relevant to the AU’s reform process.
The panel’s work will involve studying current AU structures, consulting widely with stakeholders, and drafting strategic recommendations aimed at improving the AU’s decision-making and accountability mechanisms, strengthening peace-building and conflict prevention programs, enhancing cooperation between African states in addressing cross-border threats, and proposing reforms to make the AU more responsive and unified in handling security and governance issues.
Kutesa’s appointment places a Ugandan diplomat at the centre of a process that could shape Africa’s political and security future. For Uganda, it highlights the country’s continued influence in continental affairs. For Africa as a whole, it signals a renewed effort by the AU to adapt its institutions to today’s challenges — from violent extremism to governance crises — while keeping democracy and peace at the core of its mission.