President Museveni’s impassioned plea for Africa to break free from the shackles of colonial legacies echoed through the hallowed halls of the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo, Kampala. The charismatic leader addressed the esteemed gathering of speakers and presiding officers of the Commonwealth Parliament at the Commonwealth Speakers Conference (CSPOC24) convened by the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Anita Among, on January 4.
In his address, President Museveni emphasized the imperative for Africa to chart its own development course, casting aside the lingering repercussions of colonial policies that have long hindered the continent’s progress. He urged a departure from the dependency on external solutions, advocating for a more robust focus on homegrown initiatives to overcome internal challenges.
Highlighting the constraints imposed by inherited foreign policies, Museveni called upon the Commonwealth Parliament to lead the charge in transforming their nations. The charismatic leader urged the abandonment of neo-colonial ideologies in favor of embracing technology as a tool for progress. While acknowledging the controversial legacy of imperialism, he encouraged the adoption of positive remnants from colonialism while discarding its detrimental aspects.
President Museveni, a seasoned statesman, went on to describe imperialism as having satanic attributes but intriguingly noted that it inadvertently gave birth to the Commonwealth. With a collective population of 2.4 billion people, he envisioned the Commonwealth as a catalyst for the development of member nations.
Speaker Anita Among, in her address, underscored the conference’s focal points, encompassing critical issues such as youth and gender, health, security, environment, human rights, the rule of law, democratic expansion, and the enhancement of parliamentary debate quality. She expressed gratitude to President Museveni for facilitating the conference, deeming it a pivotal milestone in the nation’s legislative history.
The Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Parliaments, scheduled until January 6, represents a collaborative effort towards driving progressive changes and fostering deeper intra-Commonwealth cooperation. With 33 out of 43 confirmed speakers in attendance, the event is poised to contribute significantly to the shared goals of the Commonwealth nations.
Among the distinguished speakers and presiding officers present are representatives from the Dominican Republic, Botswana, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Kenya, The Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Singapore, Samoa, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Tonga, Uganda, and Zambia. Their collective presence underscores the commitment to a united effort in addressing the challenges faced by their respective nations and fostering a brighter future within the Commonwealth.
