Uganda’s Parliament and the Commonwealth have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in parliamentary accountability, digitalisation, trade, refugee support, regional peace and education.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said he welcomed Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and her delegation to Parliament on Wednesday for a courtesy visit.
Botchwey was accompanied by Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Adonia Ayebare.
Tayebwa said the discussions focused on how the Commonwealth can support Uganda in building a more open and accountable Parliament.
“There are opportunities for our MPs to benchmark other Commonwealth countries, learn how other parliaments are digitising their processes, and build the capacity of our Members to debate critical issues,” Tayebwa said.
He said such exchanges could strengthen the capacity of Ugandan lawmakers to contribute to national development and wider Commonwealth objectives.
Trade and investment
The talks also examined the role of the Commonwealth in promoting trade among member states.
Tayebwa said he was pleased to learn that promoting trade and investment is among Botchwey’s key priorities as Secretary-General.
He said stronger Commonwealth cooperation could create opportunities for Uganda to expand economic links with other member states.
The Commonwealth could also play a role in supporting countries such as Uganda that host refugees, Tayebwa said, particularly as they deal with the social and economic pressures associated with refugee populations.
Peace and scholarships
The meeting also covered the Commonwealth’s potential contribution to peace and conflict resolution in the region.
Tayebwa said the two sides discussed opportunities to increase scholarships for Ugandan students, alongside other areas of cooperation.
He said he looked forward to further engagements with Botchwey as Uganda seeks to deepen its cooperation with the Commonwealth.
