Africa-Press – Uganda. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has been elected member of the bureau to represent East Africa to the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) – European Union General Assembly.
Tayebwa was elected during the 64th session of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly and Constitutive Sessions of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assemblies that is taking place in the Angolan capital of Luanda between 17-21.
Tayebwa will be representing Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Djibouti, Comoros, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
Key among others, Tayebwa said he will focus on the implementation of the Samoa Agreement which has replaced the Cotonou Agreement that had been running for over 20 years.
“We shall be engaging strongly with the European Union coalition’s to deal with climate change, gender parity, energy transition, human rights, peace and conflict resolution, and democracy which are cornerstones of the international framework,” he said.
Tayebwa promised to be a voice of the Global South — focusing on the unfair trade practices including unfair trade restrictions, from the European Union nations.
“We shall engage the EU on energy issues and renewable energy,” the Deputy Speaker said.
“We must be able to exploit our resources without damaging the environment, but also Africa, which is contributing only 3% of global emissions cannot be the one paying the price and receiving the heaviest penalties, when it comes to energy transition,” he added.
Tayebwa said there will be five member states from Africa negotiating with the European Parliament on the issues.
“I hope that if we can remain focused from a pan-Africanist perspective, then we should be able to engage the European Parliament and achieve much more,” he added.
Martin Peters Owino, a Kenyan MP, said Tayebwa will ably represent the East African region.
“I think with him heading the East Africa regional section, we will be much stronger and we want him to bring us together, first of all communicate effectively that we may discuss issues before it comes to the floor when we have the sessions,” he said.
“In that way, we may have articulated very well what is affecting us.
“One thing that he(Tayebwa) said which I want to repeat here in the assembly, is that this kind of regionalising African states should not be used to weaken our stand as an African continent.”
Owino urged the region to turn such strategy into strength, saying member states could start from issues with trade imbalances, issues of democracy, and other issues that affect us.
The OACPA-EU Assembly brings together an equal number of elected MPs from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and Members of the European Parliament.
Opposition Chief in the Ugandan Parliament, John Baptist Nambeshe said Tayebwa’s election comes with huge opportunities for Uganda and the region.
“Our region grapples with unique challenges that will require aggressive negotiators like Tayebwa to be on that team to unite Africa because there are already signs of rifts,” he said.
Nambeshe said Uganda was in three different categories of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific but that the bloc has a formidable team to help forge a united stand.
Comprised of 79 Member States from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States strives to achieve the sustainable development of its Members and their progressive integration into the world economy.
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