The Leader of Uganda’s delegation to the Pan African Parliament, Hon. Onyango Kakoba, has urged his colleagues to use their privileged positions in national parliaments to lobby for the urgent ratification of the amended protocol providing legislative powers to the PAP.
Hon. Kakoba (NRM, Buikwe North), said members should lobby their national parliaments, ministries of foreign affairs and presidents so that the Protocol can be ratified by 2015.
“Our main task now is to get the necessary ratification. I believe as members of national parliaments we are best placed to use our positions to meet this target,” he said, during debate on the Activity Report of the Pan African Parliament. The Report was presented by PAP President, Hon. Bethel N. Amadi, Tuesday, October 14, 2014.
The decision to grant legislative powers to PAP was agreed upon following the Adoption of the Revised Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union relating to the Pan African Parliament by the African Union Heads of State and Government Assembly held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in June, 2014. The Revised Protocol requires ratification by 28 African Union Member States, before it can become fully operational.
When the Protocol becomes fully operational, Hon. Kakoba said, the Pan African Parliament will have powers to make model laws in the areas of trade and movement, environment and infrastructure such as roads and railways but not issues on democracy and human rights.
The PAP was established in March 2004, by the Constitutive Act of the African Union with a vision to provide a common platform for African peoples and their grass-roots organizations to be more involved in decision making. It was established in order to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the development and economic integration of the continent.
During the debate on the Report, members suggested that a Standing Committee of PAP or an adhoc committee be set up to traverse the continent meeting and persuading the relevant national leaders on the need for ratification of the Protocol.
PAP President Hon. Amadi, said it was the duty of every PAP member to ensure that the Protocol is ratified, such that the body can fully acquire its powers and position in promoting the interests of the African people.
“We must continue to do what we can to ensure that PAP speaks for the people of Africa to improve their conditions. The needs of Africans are the same – a roof over their head, food on the table, health care, education, a job that guarantees a living wage, peace and security,” said Hon. Amadi.
He said that by granting PAP legislative powers, “Our leaders have started the process of building a strong democratic institution that would help continental efforts to deepen democracy, good governance, transparency and accountability which are the prerequisites for development, peace and stability.”
The PAP is also expected to promote the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa.