The team behind 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

64TH COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE

The Parliament of Uganda, under the leadership of Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, is set to host the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) from September 22 to 29. The last one was held in Dakar, Bangladesh in 2017. As the conference draws near, preparations for a successful event are in high gear. But do you know the people behind the arrangements for this international event that will attract over 500 parliamentarians across the globe? We bring you brief profiles of the people organising the global event.

 
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Rebecca Kadaga, chairperson, CPC coordination

Kadaga is Uganda's Speaker of Parliament. She is also the Kamuli District Woman Member of Parliament. Kadaga is the president-designate of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the chairperson of the 64th CPC co-ordinating committee. The speaker will be responsible for chairing coordination meetings for the successful hosting of the CPC in Uganda. However, several subcommittees have been set up. The following are the chairpersons of the different committees. 

Jalia Bintu, conference management 

Bintu is the Woman MP for Masindi district and a former parliamentary commissioner. Bintu will coordinate all the meetings that will take place simultaneously with the conference, such as the governance meetings, including the executive committee, co-ordinating committee, performance and review committee and Commonwealth women parliamentarians' steering committee.

Syda Bbumba, accommodation

Bbumba is the MP of Nakaseke County North, in Nakaseke district. The former fi nance minister is also the chairperson of the Parliamentary committee on National economy. Bbumba will be responsible for identifying a range of suitable hotels to accommodate the delegates and make necessary reservations in accordance with the desires of the delegates.

Elijah Okupa, finance/budget

Okupa is the MP for Kasilo County and a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). He is a former parliamentary commissioner. He will handle finances for CPC. He will receive budgets from sub-committees for approval, oversee the preparation of the overall budget of the conference and ensure availability of funds for the sub-committees and the conference. He will also be responsible for demanding accountability of all funds spent on the conference.

From left: Brig. Felix Kulayigye, Syda Bbumba, Cecilia Ogwal and Paul Amoru

Jacob Oboth-Oboth, protocol and ceremonies

Oboth-Oboth is a seasoned lawyer and Member of Parliament for West Budama County South. He is currently the chairperson of the Parliament's committee on legal and parliamentary affairs. He will be responsible for co-ordinating all the protocol programmes of the conference, liaising with other agencies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on protocol issues. He will also be responsible for extracting the itineraries of all the delegates, their spouses, observers and accompanying persons for pickups from the airport and back to the airport.

Brig. Felix Kulayigye, security and accreditation

He is a former army spokesperson and one of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) representatives in Parliament. He will be chairing the sub-committee on security and accreditation of the CPC delegates. He will co-ordinate security before and during the conference, notifying the Inspector General of Police (IGP) about the conference and liaising with other security agencies. He will be responsible for providing intelligence on planned criminal acts and military Police in the event of civil disobedience, as well as route security. He will also co-ordinate the accreditation of participants in the conference.

Paula Turyahikayo, entertainment excursion and tourism

Turyahikayo is the Woman MP for Rukungiri District. Her role at the CPC will be to oversee the arrangement for the dinners, receptions and cocktails for the different categories of delegates. She will liaise with other organisations to promote Uganda in the tourism sector and also seek adverts to be published in magazines about Uganda.

Cecilia Ogwal, spouse programme committee

The Dokolo District Woman MP and former parliamentary commissioner will be in charge of the spouses programme. Her role will be to determine whether the spousal programme will be accepted by hosts and whether spouses should be charged and if so, how much. She will also be responsible for co-ordinating the welfare of spouses, confirmation of attendance, accommodation, transport, excursions and invitations in liaison with the line sub-committees.

Peter Ogwang, transport

The MP of Usuk County, Katakwi district and commissioner Parliament will be the head of the sub-committee on transport. He will be responsible for identifying the nature and specifi cations of vehicles required for the different categories of delegates. He will also be responsible for procuring the vehicles that will be required for use during the conference. He will oversee transportation of delegates from the airport, to the hotels, conference facilities, excursion and other places, as shall be agreed upon.

Paul Amoru, media and publicity

Amoru is the Dokolo North MP and a journalist by profession. He is the chairperson of the parliamentary forum on media. His role will be to co-ordinate and approve all media before, during and shortly after the conference. He will also liaise with the media houses both within and outside CPA headquarters secretariat, on the publications to be made.

Robinah Nabbanja, gifts and souvenirs

The Kakumiro District Woman MP, who is also a commissioner of Parliament, will head the sub-committee on gifts and souvenirs for the CPC delegates. Her role will be to plan and budget for the gifts to be given to the different categories of delegates. She will also be responsible for ensuring that gifts are distributed to the relevant delegates and spouses.

Dr Michael Bukenya, medical and first aid

Bukenya is the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on health and the MP of Bukuya County, Mubende district. His role will mainly revolve around offering basic medical care to the delegates and their spouses. His committee will be responsible for co-opting doctors, nurses and other medical personnel required to handle the number of delegates expected. He will work in liaison with the Ministry of Health.

Paul Wabwiire, head of the secretariat

He is the deputy parliamentary affairs clerk. He will be in charge of coordinating all communication from the CPA headquarters secretariat and branches. He will be responsible for issuing notices and invitations to the branches and preparing information circulars in liaison with the CPA headquarters secretariat.