Stop lecturing other nations on what practices to adopt, Museveni tells Commonwealth nations
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the Commonwealth nations to stop lecturing other nations on what practices to adopt, and instead, cautioned them to expunge all ideas of chauvinism, like chauvinism of identity, religion, tribes, race and social class.
Mr. Museveni made the remarks while presiding over the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Parliaments.
The president highlighted to the speakers of parliament from different common wealth Nations, that what is good for the goose, is good for the gander and what is good for their nations, is good for everybody. Hence once they value freedom, then they should value the freedom of other nations.
“If you value independence, if you value dignity, then you must respect the dignity of everybody. Stop manipulations and lectures to societies that are different from yours. If you think you are right, influence people by example. With this posture, the world will be peaceful and the progress will be rapid,” said President Museveni.
On the other hand President Museveni asked the visiting Speakers to embrace some of the good things left behind by colonialism, noting that although imperialism was satanic in nature, but it gave birth to the Commonwealth which has brought together a population of 2.4billion people, and this population can be used to develop nations within the commonwealth.
“Although we resisted the nonsense of imperialism which we think is a backward practice, and satanic. St. Paul calls it pagan. When we defeated colonialism, we said no, some good things have come from these people, let us keep them and let us stay together as equal people, no longer as colonised and coloniser. This is how the Commonwealth comes in,” said President Museveni.
The President added, “When I met Her Majesty the Queen of England, I told her that the Commonwealth is one of the international meetings I go to and I don’t have the ear phones to translate for me, I speak directly although we speak in different accents, but you can hear what I am saying. This is a very big opportunity, 2.4billion people using one language, understanding one language which we got as a result of the temporary colonial interaction.”
The Speaker of the parliament of Uganda Anitah Among, thanked President Museveni for facilitating the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Parliaments, saying the hosting of the conference by Uganda is a key milestone in Uganda’s legislative history.
Hosting this conference in Kampala is indeed a remarkable milestone in the legislative history of Uganda. In a special way, I want to thank President Museveni for honouring our invitation and to grace this function and most importantly for ensuring that this conference was well facilitated and the approval all came from you and we appreciate that gesture of good will,” said Among.
Speaker Anitah Among also expressed gratitude towards the 31 Speakers who attended the conference saying, “It humbles us that many of you have travelled from far and wide, throughout several for several hours to travel to come and attend this conference and honour our invitation. You are most welcome.”
“Hosting the 27th CSCOP, in Uganda will accrue an immense multiplier effect in widening our diplomatic frontiers for cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy, enhance tourism and trade and shape the image of Uganda among the international community,” she added.
Parliament has revealed that the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Parliaments (CSCOP) has been attended by 33 Speakers, out of the 43 Speakers that had earlier confirmed attendance.
The guests are from nations of; Dominican Republic, Botswana, Ghana, Granada, Guyana, India, Kenya, The Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Singapore, Samoa, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Uganda and Zambia.
