Tayebwa calls for fairer OACPS-EU partnership to benefit resource-rich countries

Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has called for a more equitable partnership between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU), urging resource-producing countries to benefit more from their natural wealth.

Tayebwa made the call while chairing the 65th session of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels, Belgium, ahead of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly scheduled to begin the following day.

He urged member states to move away from exporting raw materials and instead invest in local industries, processing facilities and skills development to create employment opportunities, and ensure communities benefit fairly from their natural resources.

The Deputy Speaker also called for climate justice and equitable financing to take centre stage during the discussions, highlighting the disproportionate effects of climate change on OACPS countries despite their relatively low contribution to global emissions

He noted that OACPS member states, representing a combined population of nearly two billion people, contribute no more than six per cent of global emissions but bear a significant share of climate-related destruction.

During the meeting, Chad’s representative, David Houdeingar Ngarimaden, highlighted the environmental challenges facing communities around Lake Chad, whose surface area has reportedly reduced from 25,000 square kilometres to2,500 square kilometres.

Jamaica’s representative, Heroy Clarke, also shared the impact of Hurricane Melissa in 2025, explaining how his country had to rely on loans to finance recovery efforts.

Clarke questioned why countries that contribute little to climate change should be forced to borrow money and pay interest to recover from climate-related disasters.

Tayebwa is expected to co-chair the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly alongside his European Union counterpart, Francisco Assis.

He expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce tangible outcomes benefiting both the OACPS member states and the European Union.

He is accompanied by several Ugandan Members of Parliament, including Omara Paul (Otuke County), Joan Namutaawe (Masaka District), Florence Akiiki Asiimwe (Masindi District), Dicksons Kateshumbwa (Sheema Municipality), Ruth Kankunda (Kiruhura District), Annet Nabirye (Luuka District), Sarah Kabarokole (Bunyangabo District) and Shyam Jay Tanna (Tororo Municipality).