CHOGM: Nabbanja meets King Charles, reaffirms Uganda’s commitment to environmental conservation
King Charles met with various government heads and business leaders inside an onshore pavilion, where they exchanged notes and discussed regional topics at the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja with King Charles III of the United Kingdom during the Launch of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative in Antigua and Barbuda. (Courtesy)
_________________ Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja with King Charles III of the United Kingdom during the Launch of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative in Antigua and Barbuda. (Courtesy)
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has met King Charles III of the United Kingdom during the Launch of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative in Antigua and Barbuda.
King Charles met with various government heads and business leaders inside an onshore pavilion, where they exchanged notes and discussed regional topics at the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). 
Nabbanja is leading the Ugandan delegation at this year’s 28th CHOGM, being held in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean (November 1–4, 2026).
The theme for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2026) is “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”
The summit brings together world leaders, ministers, and delegates from 56 Commonwealth nations to discuss climate resilience, trade, sustainable development, and global economic challenges.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during the Launch of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative in Antigua and Barbuda. (Courtesy)
During the meeting, which was closed to the press, Premier Nabbanja briefed King Charles on the need to support Uganda on its development agenda.
A release from her office states that some of the key issues raised by Nabbanja are funding the Standard Gauge Railway to spur the country’s development and also inviting King Charles to come and visit Uganda.
“In my brief remarks, I said, Your Majesty, Uganda commends you for the continued support to the development of the country, and we appeal that you support us in the development of the Standard Gauge Railway to enable us to develop faster,” narrated Nabbanja after the meeting.
Addressing the Commonwealth Nature Initiative, the Premier highlighted Uganda’s commitment in environmental protection.
“Uganda endorses the Commonwealth Nature Initiative and pledges to restore degraded landscapes under our National Restoration Strategy by 2030. We shall also expand our Protected Area estate and community conservation, and creation of Special Conservation Areas to contribute to the 30x30 target,” noted Nabbanja.
Nabbanja appealed to the Commonwealth secretariat to fund nature-related initiatives, explaining that over 70% of Ugandans depend on nature for a living.
“We cannot protect nature without financing nature. Uganda calls for innovative financing including: debt-for-nature swaps, biodiversity credits, and direct access to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund,” she noted.
She emphasised that for small islands and landlocked states like Uganda, nature is not a luxury because it’s our economy.
The prime minister later in the day addressed the Commonwealth Business Forum, which was not open to the press at the Antigua Cricket Arena.
Leaders representing nearly a third of the world’s population are meeting to strengthen ties during a time of global political upheaval.
The Commonwealth is made up of 56 nations spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, most of which were once part of the British Empire.
Their leaders are scheduled to attend, along with officials from Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.