Uganda is seeking support from members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to host the organization’s headquarters in Kampala.
Ugandan Members of Parliament, led by Enos Asiimwe from Kabula County, officially submitted Uganda’s bid during the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) held in Accra, Ghana on Wednesday.
Asiimwe and his fellow MPs, representing Speaker Anita Among, emphasized that Uganda possesses the strategic location and necessary qualifications to serve as the CPA headquarters. They also highlighted the significant economic opportunities that hosting the CPA headquarters in a developing country like Uganda would bring.
These opportunities include hosting conferences, creating jobs at the secretariat, and fostering infrastructural development. CPA is a financially robust organization that would invest in constructing its headquarters in the chosen host country.
The conference, held under the theme “The Commonwealth Charter 10 years on: Values and Principles for Parliaments to Uphold,” convened over 500 parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and decision-makers from Commonwealth nations to address pressing issues facing today’s parliaments and societies.
Asuman Basalirwa, representing Bugiri Municipality, expressed confidence in Uganda’s suitability as the CPA headquarters host. He noted Uganda’s longstanding membership in the East African Community and its history of hosting institutions like the East African Development Bank.
During the 65th conference, CPA members had proposed relocating the association’s headquarters from Britain to a willing member state. Currently, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association comprises around 180 branches, consisting of national parliaments and sub-national legislatures of Commonwealth member states.
These branches are organized into nine regions, including Africa, Asia, Australia, British Islands and Mediterranean, Canada, Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic, India, Pacific, and South East Asia. The CPA Headquarters Secretariat is currently based in London.
