President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni discussions with a group of Parliamentary Speakers from several countries on the sidelines of the just concluded 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) held in Kampala from 3rd- 6th January, 2024.at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Kampala.
The President held talks with Speakers from Sri Lanka, Ghana, Burundi and South Sudan in successive meetings which were held on the sidelines of the CSPOC.
In a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka, Rt Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, President Museveni said Uganda is ready for investment and cooperation with Sri Lanka.
He said the East African country has everything that is required for investment including a ready market for finished goods.
“We have a lot of potential, we are ready, let the leaders come and we talk. We have everything here; there’s nothing we don’t have. We are organizing the African Common Market,” President Museveni said.
Museveni reiterated that it was an ideological mistake by the Europeans to colonise countries in other continents, saying that the whole idea of imperialism “is not serious because in the end you lose because the people you want to control are people like you. You may have an initial advantage of technology, but they will learn and kick you out.”
Rt. Hon. Mahinda hailed President Museveni for being a good and exemplary leader.
In another meeting with the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S.K Bagbin and his delegation, President Museveni urged the leaders to shun politics of identity and embrace politics of interest to enable the people they lead to acquire prosperity.
“Here we had groups which emphasized identity; we are of this tribe and religion. It was a very big problem and for us we said no! This identity, yes it can be important sometimes but most of the time what is crucial is interests,” he said.
“We started in 1965 as students rejecting this idea of identity. It now became identity Vs interests. Instead of talking about the politics of identity, why don’t you talk about the politics of Patriotism? Love Uganda. Why do you love Uganda? Because you need it for your prosperity.”
Visiting Commonwealth Speakers of National Parliaments had a great experience on Kiira Motors’ Kayoola electric buses
Hon. Bagbin thanked President Museveni for his good leadership skills that have enabled him to become an outstanding and admirable leader in the region.
“I want to congratulate you for the good work you are doing particularly your leadership skills and you have just exhibited them here again, we are very grateful,” he asserted.
President Museveni and the South Sudan National Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba discussed the socio-political dynamics of South Sudan including the issue of elections.
The President also had a brief engagement with the Speaker of Burundi National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Gelase Daniel Ndabirabe.
The 27th CSPOC was one of the well attended and delegates commended Uganda for high lievel of organisation. Uganda was also in position to showcase its E-mobility products -the Kayoola EVS (fully) electric buses that were deployed to provide shuttle services for the delegates during the three day conference.
The Chair of the rorganising committee Hon. Abdu Katuntu at the closing lucheon said that Kiira Motors corporation Uganda’s Automotive Industry flagship had demonstrated by producing electric vehciles locally that it was possibled for Africa’ to join the rest of the world in offering sustainable and efficient mass mobility solutions.
