The 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) countries, hosted by Uganda, is expected to have significant positive impacts on harmonizing legislation and parliamentary practices, according to Speaker Anita Among.
In her welcome remarks at the opening ceremony held at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala on Thursday, January 4, 2024, Speaker Among, who is also the Host Speaker, expressed confidence that the conference would enhance cooperation among parliaments and boost trade.
“I am confident that this conference will provide yet another platform for us to harness our collective resolve and direct our energies towards greater equity and inclusivity, democratization, good governance, and the rule of law in the Commonwealth for the good of humanity,” she said.
The conference, scheduled from January 3 to January 6, 2024, was opened by President Yoweri Museveni.
Speaker Among highlighted that the conference topics were carefully selected to stimulate discourse and the sharing of best practices and experiences. These topics include diverse and inclusive parliaments, environment and climate change, and health and wellbeing of parliamentarians, among others.
Regarding presiding officers, Among noted that the conference promotes impartiality and fairness, providing a platform for understanding parliamentary democracy and the development of parliamentary institutions.
She commended the outgoing Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Cameroon, for their confidence in Uganda’s ability to organize and host the conference.
Speaker Among urged fellow Speakers and Presiding Officers to take an interest in Uganda’s tourism, inviting them to experience the country, often referred to as ‘the Pearl of Africa,’ and enjoy its rich natural heritage.
“We have organized a rich and memorable itinerary for your stay in Uganda to experience Uganda being the Pearl of Africa, as rightly observed by the then British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. We invite you to enjoy every moment in this beautiful land that is gifted by nature,” Among said.
She praised the hospitality of the Ugandan people and the country’s unique natural endowments, inviting participants to visit national parks, iconic waterfalls on the River Nile, and other attractions that showcase Uganda’s beauty.
Speaker Among expressed confidence that the visit to Uganda’s natural amenities would enhance the country’s international image, with positive multiplier effects.
The CSPOC was established in 1969 as an initiative of the then Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Lucien Lamoureux. Its membership is restricted to the Speakers and Presiding Officers of national Parliaments of all independent sovereign states of the Commonwealth. CSPOC operates on a two-year cycle, holding a conference of the full membership every two years, usually early in January.
