Alupo Wears Ethiopia’s “Habesha Kemis” as She Lands in Addis for UN Summit

Uganda’s Vice President, Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, arrived in Addis Ababa Saturday afternoon to participate in the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) Stocktake, scheduled to take place from July 27 to 29, 2025.

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, Vice President Alupo was received by senior Ethiopian officials, including the Vice President of the ruling Prosperity Party, H.E. Adem Farah, and State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye.

Uganda’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Rebecca Amuge Otengo was also part of the receiving party at Bole Airport.

Alupo turned heads as she stepped off the plane dressed in the elegant Habesha Kemis, a traditional Ethiopian dress, symbolizing regional solidarity and cultural diplomacy.

Her sartorial choice was praised by Ethiopian officials as a powerful gesture of respect and unity.

“This is another testament to Uganda’s leadership commitment in promoting people-to-people relations,” remarked Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Etsegenet Bezabih.

“It builds on the success of the recent Atteker People Festival in Soroti, which brought together communities from both countries to celebrate shared heritage and regional peace.”

Co-hosted by the Governments of Ethiopia and Italy, the UNFSS+4 Summit will convene heads of state and government, ministers, UN agencies, scientists, youth, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, private sector actors, and producers from around the world to review progress since the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and accelerate efforts to build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems.

Vice President Alupo is expected to speak on Uganda’s achievements in transforming its agrifood systems, particularly under strategic frameworks such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the Agro-Industrialization Programme.

Uganda will also showcase its national pathways aligned with the commitments made at the 2021 Summit.

Her presence at the high-level meeting reflects Uganda’s ongoing dedication to food security, regional cooperation, and climate-smart agricultural transformation, as well as its active role on the African and global stage in driving sustainable development.

It comes days after President Yoweri Museveni met with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr. QU Dongyu, for high-level talks on accelerating Uganda’s agrifood systems transformation.

The summit will feature thematic discussions, investment roundtables, and country-led stocktakes, all geared toward unlocking financing, enhancing accountability, and strengthening collaboration across stakeholders in the global food systems architecture.