President Yoweri Museveni has expressed his gratitude for the support the Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Queen Elizabeth the 2nd of the United Kingdom, has accorded to the organization. 

The Queen also appreciated the thoughtful words and took interest in the theme of this year’s conference ‘Adaptaion, Engagement and Evolution in a Rapidly Changing Commonwealth’ and wished President Museveni and all the delegates to the CPC delegates the best of the deliberations. 

This was contained in the Queen’s message to President Museveni, who is Deputy Patron of CPA and to all the delegates attending the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.

Parliamentary Speakers and their Deputies, Members of Parliament as well as stakeholders of the Commonwealth Parliaments from across the globe, are attending the one-week long meeting.

President Museveni, who addressed the CPC today, expressed is views on how the Commonwealth member countries could be more productive noting that apart from the great achievement of the democratic systems, Commonwealth member countries could also use their population that stands at over 2.5.billion to mutually promote investment, work together on security, cultural exchanges on top examining options on trade.

The President said that member states should peacefully work with all other countries in the world irrespective of their social internal systems for mutual advantage based on respect of the sovereignty of each country. He called on member countries to work for the promotion and spread of scientific innovations as well protection of the environment on the basis of an agreed joint action.

Regarding the issue of oppression of man by nature, President Museveni pointed out that the matter could be solved using science throughout the world. He also said that oppression of man by man is better resolved by affected communities and in some extreme cases by some strong external solidarity as was done with apartheid and colonialism.

Mr. Museveni congratulated Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of Uganda Parliament, for organizing the conference and for her hard work that involved networking with the Commonwealth bodies that resulted in the conference being hosted by Uganda.

Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, who is President Designate of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference and Speaker of Parliament, outlined the main objectives of the conference but noted with regret the absence of the delegation from the Bahamas who recently experienced unprecedented disaster of devastating hurricane that killed many people. A moment of silence was observed in memory of the victims.

Cameroon Deputy Speaker of Parliament, on behalf of the delegations, expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to them. On behalf of the delegates, she pledged to be Uganda’s Ambassadors when they go back to their respective countries.

Moving a vote of thanks, Kenya’s Parliamentary Speaker, on behalf of the delegates extended their gratitude to President Museveni for honoring their invitation. He also thanked Speaker Kadaga, the Government and people of Uganda for hosting the conference.

ENDS