COMESA is mourning the demise of Ms Hope Kivengere, a Member of the COMESA Committee of Elders, who passed away on 19 October 2021 in her home country Uganda.

Ms Kivengere was appointed to the Committee of Elders in April 2015 where she also served as the Deputy Chairperson. In the course of service to the regional bloc, she carried out several assignments including that of leading COMESA Election Observer Missions.

Among these were the 2018 Presidential Elections in Egypt, the 2019 Presidential Election in Comoros, the 2019 General Elections in Malawi and most recently, Zambia’s General Elections in August 2021.

In a message of commiseration, sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala, Uganda, Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe described Ms Kivengere as an active Elder who executed her role with energy and excellence.

“It is with profound sadness and a great sense of loss that we have learnt of the untimely death of Madam Hope Kivengere,” said the Secretary General. “We shall always cherish the memories of our interactions with her.”

Madam Kivengere was endowed with a wealth of knowledge in peace and security matters as well as sharp diplomatic skills having worked as the Spokesperson for the Presidency in Uganda from 1986-2001.