Kadaga elected IPU President Africa region

GENEVA

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has been elected unopposed as president for the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) for Africa region.

She was elected Sunday evening at the ongoing 135th IPU assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Speakers from Ethiopia and Madagascar withdrew their candidature in favour of Ms Kadaga whom they described as a woman of “good stature and defender of women and human rights.” By this position, Ms Kadaga will be leading all African parliaments that are members of the IPU. She will, on behalf of IPU, coordinate pertinent governance and emergency matters on the African continent.
All United Nations member countries around the world are meeting this week, from 23rd – 27th of October in Geniva, Switzerland to discuss issues which are affecting the world’s peace.

The Speaker is leading a delegation of four members of parliament; Mr Raphael Magyezi, Mr Mourine Osoru, Mr Latif Sebaggala, and Mr Fransis Mwijukye who are attached to the various committees of the assembly.
Mr Sebaggala was elected to the IPU committee on security and peace representing Uganda.
The Clerk to parliament Ms Jane Kibirige is also at the Assembly to pick out the technical issues which require Parliament of Uganda to implement as advised by the Inter- Parliament Union assembly.

The week long sitting of the 135th IPU Assembly, is focusing on human rights abuses as precursors of conflict. Ms Kadaga earlier told the assembly that the issue of refugees and migration needed to be addressed urgently.
“We have to mitigate the effects of migration,” she said, adding : “The African people continue to be trafficked, they continue to be killed, they continue to be drowned by the transporters. The mediteranian sea is now the grave yard of the African people, we should put more effort to see what is really happening to the African people ”.

She also said she would remind both the Ugandan government and the UN to ensure women are included on peace missions because women bear the brunt of conflict more than anyone else.
The other issues to be addressed at the ongoing meeting include human rights issues globally. The meeting discussed the “The freedom of women to participate in political processes fully, safely and without interference: Building partnerships between men and women.”
Ms Kadaga told the gathering that Uganda was moving in the right direction on women participation though more needs to be done. The meeting raised concerns about allegations of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers.