Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga says that Legislatures are key in influencing the shape and content of a country’s financial and development agenda through legislation and influencing policy.

Rebecca Kadaga the Speaker of the Ugandan parliament.

Kadaga stresses that in their core mandate, which revolves around legislation, policy oversight and budget approval, Parliaments are central in the growth and development of any country.

The Speaker made these remarks while addressing  gates from various African Parliaments at the opening of the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa Region Conference taking place in Balaclava, Mauritius  under the theme “Africa for Sustainable Goals: the Role of Parliaments.

On the issue of women representation in parliaments, Kadaga noted that some strides had been achieved on the African Continent.

Kadaga however, also cited challenges in the West African region where women representation is less than 30 percent.