The brains behind the big meet

Parliament. In the run-up to the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Parliament has split the tasks and assigned different committees for execution of duty.
More than 1,000 dignitaries are expected to come to Uganda, with the figure projected to rise up to 1,500 including legislators as well as their staff and spouses. Here is a comprehensive list of the men and women, steering the preps.

President Museveni
The President of Uganda is the deputy Patron of the 64th CPC, with the Queen of England being a perpetual Patron. His long stay in power for 33 years has seen him attend a number of international conferences, mainly hinged on peace and sustainability.

Rebecca Kadaga (NRM, Kamuli District)
She is the Speaker of Parliament and President-designate of CPA.
She also holds office for the Chairperson of the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Coordinating Committee.
A lawyer by profession, Ms Kadaga is the Woman MP for Kamuli District, and the first woman Speaker for the Parliament of Uganda, having been elected to the position in 2011.
She has more than 30 years of experience in legislation and governance.

Syda Namirembe Bbumba (NRM, Nakaseke North)
She is the Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Accommodation. She has been in charge of identifying the hotelier, making necessary reservations and bookings in accordance with the desires of the delegates.
Ms Bbumba is an accountant and banker with a pool of experience in Parliament as a legislator and minister having served in different cabinet positions, including Finance.

Elijah Okupa (FDC, Kasilo County)
He chairs the sub-committee on Finance and the Budget where he is charged with monitoring all procurements, working with respective sub-committees and the internal procurement organ of Parliament.

Jalia Bintu (NRM, Masindi District)
She is the chairperson for the sub-committee on Conference Management. She is and will also be responsible for coordinating all the meetings that will take place simultaneously with the conference such as the Governance meetings.

Jacob Oboth-Oboth (Ind, West Budama South)
He is the chairperson for the Committee on Protocol and Ceremonies; a lawyer by practice, Mr Oboth is charged with coordinating of all the protocol programmes of the conference, including liasing with other agencies in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on protocol issues.
He will also be responsible for extracting the itineraries for all the delegates, their spouses, observers and accompanying persons for pickups from the airport and drop-offs to the airport.

Brig Felix Kulaigye (UPDF)
Brig Kulaigye is one of the 10 MPs representing the army in Parliament. He is the chairperson for the Committee on Security and Accreditation.
He is required to notify the Inspector General of Police about the conference and liaise with other security agencies over security matters. Other responsibilities include accrediting participants in the conference and to prepare periodical security reports before and during the conference.

Paula Turyahikayo (NRM, Rubabo County)
She is the Chairperson for the Entertainment, Excursion and Tourism Sub-committee.
Ms Ruryahikayo is a Social Scientist. She will be responsible for arranging dinners, receptions and cocktails for the different categories of delegates (international selection for a culturally diverse audience). She is also responsible for determining whether to have optional tours or not and to liaise with other organisations to promote Uganda’s tourism sector and also seek adverts to be published in magazines about Uganda (work with the Media sub-committee); as well as to arrange for cultural dancers and entertainment.

Cecilia Ogwal (FDC, Dokolo District)
One of the longest serving Members of Parliament, Ms Ogwal is the chairperson for the Sub-committee on spouses programme.
She is responsible for clearing delegates to come with spouses and to ensure that they meet all requisite payments in the course of the conference.
Ms Ogwal will also coordinate together with her team, the welfare of spouses such as confirmations of attendance.

Peter Ogwang (NRM, Usuk County)
He is the chairperson for the Sub-committee on Transport.
A member of the Backbench Commission, Mr Ogwang will foster the identification of the nature and specifications of vehicles required for the different categories of delegates and oversee the actual procurement of the vehicles that will be required for use. Mr Ogwang will be in charge of transporting the delegates from the airport, to the hotels, conference facilities, excursion and other places as shall be agreed upon from time to time, and related responsibilities.

Paul Amoru (NRM, Dokolo North)
He is responsible for coordinating and approving all media before, during and shortly after the conference; liaising with the media houses both within and outside (CPA Headquarters Secretariat) on the publications to be made. He is a veteran journalist with experience in mainstream media, including the Daily Monitor.

Robinah Nabbanja (NRM, Kakumiro District)
She is the chairperson for the Subcommittee on Gifts and Souvenirs. She is charged with planning and budgeting for the gifts to be given to the different categories of delegates; to procure the gifts and to ensure that the gifts are distributed to the relevant delegates and spouses.

Dr Michael Bukenya (NRM, Bukuya County)
He is the chairperson of the subcommittee on Medical and First Aid; responsible for coordinating and offering basic medical care and emergencies of the delegates and their spouses; to identify the rooms to be set up in the different hotels and conference facilities as medical facilities and to procure and acquire the medicines and other medical equipment required as well as co-opting doctors, nurses and other medical personnel required to handle the number of delegates expected.

Paul Wabwire
Mr Wabwire is the deputy Clerk to Parliament. He will head the Clerk’s Secretariat which is charged with coordinating all communication from the CPA Headquarters Secretariat and the branches.
He is also responsible for the issuance of notices and invitations to the branches; preparing information circular in liaison with the CPA Headquarters Secretariat; producing biography’s booklets and printing the conference documents, among others.

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