Anita Among, the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, has urged her fellow Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth to play a leading role in creating a peaceful and conflict-free world.
She made this call at the closing of the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala.
She said that the world has faced severe geo-political changes, marked by increased violence and wars, especially in the Middle East and parts of Europe. She said that Parliaments cannot afford to be passive and indifferent.
She also appealed to the Speakers and Presiding Officers to respect the values, cultures, and traditions of other states, saying that differences in perspectives should be within the limits of friendship. She pledged the Parliament of Uganda’s commitment to support cooperation among Commonwealth legislatures.
“As the Parliament of Uganda, we shall enhance Parliamentary diplomacy through the various Inter Parliamentary bodies at our disposal, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. We shall advocate for unity, diversity, greater respect for people, and greater co-existence,” she said.
Regarding diverse and inclusive Parliaments, Speaker Among referred to Sustainable Development Goal Three and said that there should be deliberate steps to encourage youth participation in Parliament for continuity.
She mentioned, among other strategies, the annual Youth Parliament of Uganda, where youth leaders from across the country take part in a mock plenary session.
During a plenary session at the conference, where India was also chosen to host the 28th CSPOC in 2026, Parliaments were asked to address climate change through legislation.
Harivansh Narayan Singh, the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, said that the forum will provide an opportunity for delegates to positively impact the lives of citizens in the Commonwealth.
“It will be a moment of pride for India and the people of India are ready to showcase their diverse culture. We look forward to welcoming all of you to India,” he said.
The conference aims to maintain, foster, and encourage impartiality and fairness of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of the Commonwealth countries, as well as to promote knowledge and understanding of Parliamentary democracy in its various forms, among others.
