CHOGM on track - Museveni

Jan 07, 2007

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday officially announced that Uganda will host the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM) from November 23 to 25, 2007.

By Milton Olupot

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday officially announced that Uganda will host the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM) from November 23 to 25, 2007.

The President made the announcement at 5:00pm yesterday at State House, Nakasero, the same time the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Don MacKinnon, made the announcement in London.

The theme for the summit will be ‘Transforming Commonwealth societies to achieve political, economic and human development.’

The Commonwealth is a multi-racial grouping of countries formerly linked to Britain that use English as a common language.

Museveni, while commenting on the theme, said there are some excellent examples of countries which have transformed and modernised their societies politically and economically. He said that this is a practice that should be emulated throughout the Commonwealth.

Museveni gave assurance that by June this year, the 4,000 beds required to accommodate CHOGM guests will be ready. He also said that all the hotels that will host guests will be required to have standby generators to counter any power shortages.

He enumerated the benefits of hosting the summit, including giving Uganda an opportunity to inject its ideas into the bigger group of 53 countries, publicising Uganda as a tourist destination, and other business opportunities.

In a separate statement, the President said he had written to Kampala City Council and the Ministry of Works to get rid of all the dust, mud and potholes in the city. “I no longer want to see dust in the city. I do not want to see mud or potholes in Kampala.”

The chairperson of the Organising Committee of CHOGM, Hilda Musubira, said the benefits that will accrue from hosting the meeting will be immense.

She said funds have been set aside to refurbish operating theatres in Mulago and Entebbe hospitals to handle any emergencies.

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