He made the remarks during the opening of the COEWG meeting held on 19 January 2026 at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States. The forum, which is convened every four years, brings together Troop- and Police-Contributing Countries (TPCCs) and senior UN officials to discuss issues related to equipment, personnel, and logistics in peacekeeping missions.

Col. Mutabazi noted that the 2026 COEWG is being held against the backdrop of serious financial constraints affecting UN peacekeeping. He explained that funding shortages have led to reductions in personnel and contingent-owned equipment, creating uncertainty about the future effectiveness and sustainability of peacekeeping operations worldwide.

The COEWG also serves as a platform to review and update the Contingent-Owned Equipment (COE) Manual, as well as to deliberate on reimbursement standards for equipment and personnel provided by contributing countries.

Rwanda is represented at the meeting by a delegation of six military and police officers from the Rwanda Defence Force and the Rwanda National Police, attending the discussions at the UN Headquarters in New York.