President Yoweri Museveni has urged Members of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) to pursue common interests for the continent including legislating on issues such as environmental protection, climate change, trade, terrorism and security, Infrastructure.
The president told members that even if there is no one in government spearheading this, these are areas of common interest that nobody is addressing. “There is no political body following these up.”
He was yesterday meeting Uganda’s members of the Pan African Parliament at the side-line’s of the African Union Summit 2017.
The members include; Hon. Jacqueline Amongin (NRM, Ngora), also the Leader of the PAP delegation; Prof. Ogenga Latigo (FDC, Agago North), Hon. Anifa Kawooya (NRM, Sembabule), Hon. Felix Okot Ogong (NRM, Dokolo South) and Hon. Babirye Kadogo (Independent Buyende).
The PAP members of parliament briefed the President about the current status of business and the need to discuss the ratification of the Malabo protocol, a new structure of parliament that stipulates that members once elected to PAP relinquish their seats at the national parliament. The members also sought from the President, government’s agenda at PAP and what their role can be beyond being members of parliament.
They also protested to the President the laxity by the South African government security that they faced when two of their delegations (Uganda and Senegal) were attacked in South Africa. The PAP members of Parliament called on the President to tackle the issue of Uganda’s image abroad in terms of investment and tourism saying despite having some of the best programmes on the continent, Uganda is always knocked out by Rwanda and Tanzania.
President Museveni then called a meeting of various sector ministries and stakeholders to meet with PAP members and forge a way forward for Uganda’s more effective representation in the regional body.
