Uganda to reap big from CPC

The global focus will be on Uganda as it hosts the forthcoming Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in September.

The conference will bring together leading parliamentarians from commonwealth countries to discuss global political issues and developments.

According to the Masindi Woman MP Jalia Bintu, who deputizes the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga as chairperson of the organizing committee, Ugandan business community, especially those in the tourism and hotel industry will reap big.

"Even as a country, we shall get alot of publicity in the international media. We can position ourselves to use the conference to promote our tourism and attracting foreign investments," Jalia explained.

Bintu, who is also the chairperson of the Parliamentary SACCO, the conference will give Uganda an opportunity to showcase her exceptional tourism attractions like wildlife and other natural resources.

Various international agencies including Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, and CNN have on several occasions ranked Uganda among the world top five countries with the best tourist attractions.

On the topics which will be deliberated upon during the conference, Bintu said they will include deliberations on how to curb terrorism, measures for mitigating the effects of climate change, and how to create jobs for the unemployed especially the youth.

"The main theme of the conference is on necessary innovations in our parliaments. By interacting with delegates from various countries, participants will be sharing best practices," she elaborated.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is one of the largest gatherings of Commonwealth parliamentarians and is a unique and valuable opportunity to network with legislators for shared-learning and to build diplomatic relations. 

CPC will this year include the landmark 30th Anniversary Conference of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) as well as the election of the new Chairperson of CWP. In this conference, women MPs will discuss ideas for advancing women emancipation.

The Conference scheduled for 22 - 29 September 2019 at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort will be held under the theme: ‘Adaption, Engagement, and Evolution in a rapidly changing Commonwealth.

The last (63^rd) Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference took place in November of 2017 in Bangladesh under the theme of Continuing to enhance the high standards of performance of Parliamentarians. 

In the last conference, many pertinent issues were discussed including the role of Parliamentarians in building stronger ties within Commonwealth; giving voice to the youth: mechanisms for ensuring effective participation of the youth in the governance process; how CPA members can work with there own governments to ensure sustainable development goals have a proper gender focus, measures for alleviating poverty, enhancement of women's empowerment; and measures for combatting corruption.

Dokolo North MP Paul Amoru, who chairs the publicity subcommittee, noted that the conference will attract regional and international media channels from which the country will get positive publicity.

Amoru is also optimistic that the conference will come with many financial opportunities which will leave money in the pockets of many Ugandans in the hotel, tourism, transport, and other sectors.

Amoru, who is also the chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum on Media, explained that the conference will discuss important ideas for promoting democracy and good governance in the commonwealth countries.

"CPA has been developing best practices over the years and continues to do so in setting standards for member countries like on transparency, parliamentary rules of procedure, operations of committees of parliament and free access of the media to the deliberations of parliament," Amoru explained.

As part of the best practices that have been adopted, Amoru noted that CPA emphasizes ensuring that deliberations of parliaments of member countries to serve the interests of there citizens.