President Yoweri Museveni has arrived in the South African Capital Pretoria to participate in celebrations to mark the tenth anniversary of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) due today at the Pan-African Convention Centre in Midrand.
The year 2014 marks 10 years of existence of the PAP and offers members an opportunity to reflect on the activities undertaken so far under the theme, “Ten years of existence of the Pan African Parliament: Reflections on its role”.
The Pan-African Parliamentarians represent all the peoples of Africa with the ultimate aim of evolving into an institution with full legislative powers with the main focus on the citizens and their voices in the political and economic development of the continent.
The President who is in South Africa at the invitation of the PAP was received at Lanseria International Airport by the South African Minister of Transport Mr. Ben Martins, the two vice Presidents of the Pan-African Parliament Ms. Loida Kasingo and Dr. Gayo Ashebir.
Others at the airport to receive the President were Ugandan High Commissioner to South Africa Julius Moto and PAPs outgoing vice chairperson of the committee on administration and financial evaluation and a member of the committee of cooperation, international relations, and conflict resolutions Ms. Cecilia Ogwal and Ugandans new head of delegation to PAP Hon. Onyango Kakooba.
During his stay in South Africa, the President will meet his counterpart President Jacob Zuma and will also address the Pan-African Parliament.
Accompanying the President to South Africa from the Ugandan Parliament are Bunya South Member of Parliament Isabirye Iddi and Kole Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Achenyi Joy Ruth.
Uganda’s new leader of delegation to PAP is Hon. Onyango Kakoba Onyango Kakoba who chairs the committee on justice and human rights, Hon. Jacqueline Amongin (Woman MP Ngora District) is the first vice president of the youth caucus, Barumba Rusanyia (Kiruhura district) is the rappoteur of the committee on trade; while Sam Otada serves on the committee on transport. Hon. Elijah Okupa (Kasilo County) replaces Cecilia Ogwal.
The Pan African Parliament is determined to grow the culture of democracy in the African continent, and will measure its success on the number of countries without conflicts of such nature.