Kadaga assures on Commonwealth meeting as 680 delegates register
Convention. Left to Right: Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein, Speaker of Tanzania National Assembly Job Ndugai and Speaker Rebecca Kadaga at the opening of 50th CPA conference in Zanzibar yesterday. PHOTO | PARLIAMENT
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The Speaker of Parliament told delegates that the conference theme presents an opportunity for countries to review the use of ICT in their parliaments.
Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to host the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) that will bring together 53 member countries.
Ms Kadaga, who is also the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) president, commended delegates for showing interest in the 2019 CPC and called for their active participation.
By yesterday, 684 delegates had confirmed their attendance for conference that is to be held from September 22 to September 29 at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala.
“A total of 684 participants have registered for the conference, with 264 being from the African region; we take it as a symbol of our fraternity,” Ms Kadaga said.
She was on Monday addressing the 50th CPA Africa Region conference, currently underway in Zanzibar.
The Zanzibar summit is held under the theme ‘E-Parliaments: Seamless Platform for Facilitating Democracy’.
Ms Kadaga also told delegates that the Kampala CPC conference will oversee the election of parliamentarians to take charge of international offices, key among which include the chairperson of the Commonwealth Women parliamentarians.
“It is, therefore, our strategic interest as Africa region to take lead in decisions that shall be made during the 64th CPC, which will determine the future role of Africa within the CPA,” she said.
The Speaker of Parliament told delegates that the conference theme presents an opportunity for countries to review the use of ICT in their parliaments.
“We should learn from each other with a view to setting up or improving existing laws, institutions and resources for use of ICT in our legislatures,” Ms Kadaga said.
The Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, told delegates that people would easily express their concerns to their legislative representatives through an effective and efficient Parliament communication system.
“In order to reap the maximum benefits of introducing E-Parliament, huge efforts are needed to promote the use and teaching of ICT in the local communities and constituencies,” President Shein said.
He also reiterated Ms Kadaga’s call to embrace CPC, saying it will make more people aware of various activities undertaken by the Commonwealth and its organs.
