This was addressed during the annual African union summit in Addis Ababa the capital city of Ethiopia, Guterres said UN will now extend support to Sudan.

African Union summit 2020,Courtesy Photo

The 33rd African Union (AU) summit was a two-day meeting, under the theme “Silencing the Guns: Creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development”

The annual African Union summit begun on Sunday February 9^th 2020, the Libya conflict and Sudan where the most important issue on the agenda.

Sudan has been welcomed back to the international scene   after the overthrow of the former president Omar al-Bashir.

Africa leader at the summit will later discuss on how to restore peace and end civil in Libya

Congregations Sudan

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The Speaker hands over a book on the history of Parliament since 1962 to the head of the Dutch Parliamentary Delegation

She made the call while meeting Members of Parliament from Netherlands on the Committee on Foreign Trade and Cooperation, who paid a courtesy call on her Thursday, 12 July 2018.
The visiting MPs discussed with the Speaker issues relating to legislative support to foreign investors, economic relations with Dutch companies in Uganda, and Uganda’s position in the African Union.
Kadaga noted that Uganda was one of the most prominent Pan African countries that have supported many liberation struggles of African nations including South Africa and Liberia among others.
“One of our proudest achievements as a small country is the pacification of Somalia. We have also done some work in the Central African Republic and our President has worked on the conflict between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar,” Kadaga said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon Winfred Kiiza also attended the meeting

She also said that amendments to improve the country’s investment climate were in the offing, including incentives for investors such as free trade zones and industrial parks under the investment code.
Kadaga noted that Uganda was the second largest refugee hosting country in the world with an open door policy and called for support to handle the situation.
“We need support for infrastructure rehabilitation in host communities because trucks that take relief food to villages damage the roads because such roads are meant for small cars,” Kadaga added.
Asked about her take on the immigration policy of Europe, the Speaker said that it was in the interest of European legislators and leaders to improve orderly access to Europe, and that “…it is important for you to invest in Africa so that we can stay here.”

Hon. Raymond de Roon (Party for Freedom) said they would visit refugee camps including the Kiryandongo refugee settlement project to assess the situation and take a report back to Parliament in the Netherlands.
The meeting was also attended by the Dutch Ambassador to Uganda; the Leader of the Opposition Winfred Kiiza, Parliamentary Commissioners and the Clerk to Parliament.

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The entrance of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda

Parliamentary Commissioner and Dokolo Woman MP, Cecilia Atim Ogwal, has asked African youth to reject foreign cultures and traditions including homosexuality as they prepare to take up leadership positions on the continent. Speaking at the opening of the 4th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) Youth Parliament held at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Hon. Ogwal warned that accepting the foreign cultures would be selling the future of Africa.

Before being elected as Parliamentary Commissioner, Ogwal was the Opposition Chief Whip and one of Uganda’s five representatives to the Pan African Parliament in South Africa and the Africa, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

While standing in for the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga at the launch of the 5 day event, Ogwal noted that as a member of the two international parliamentary bodies she rejected arguments by South Africa and European countries that homosexuality was an expression of rights of an individual, yet they rejected polygamy in their countries.

The 4th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) Youth Parliament has attracted participants from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia and hosts Uganda.
The Youth Parliament is held under the theme: Securing a better future for Africa: Role of the Youth. After the opening ceremony, other sittings will be held in the Chambers of the Parliament of Uganda.

She further said African countries are invaded by foreign cultures and traditions and that Foreign Cultures are being forced on the Youth in Africa and it is up to them (the youth) to accept or reject the cultures, and when the youth come to leadership positions, they must know what is good and what is bad.

Ogwal said that the theme of the Conference was in line with the African Union Agenda 2063 which seeks to redirect the continent’s energy towards the pursuit for integration, prosperity, peace and stability, cultural identity and people driven development.
She encouraged the youth to be at the forefront of formulating and implementing policy since they are the majority in their countries.

Ogwal also asked delegates to ensure that practices in society that affect youth and women are eliminated.
Masindi Woman MP Jalia Bintu, the Chairperson of the organizing committee of the Fourth Commonwealth Youth Parliament said that the youth delegates are expected to analyze issues and challenges that cut across the member states and come up with resolutions providing solutions to them.

James Ebitu, the Director Social Protection in the Gender, Labour and Social Development ministry, challenged the Youth to ensure that the resolutions they make address and call to action all stakeholders to prioritize the needs of the youth.
Ebitu said that focus should be on education and skills development, job creation in a sustainable job environment in emerging industries as well as strengthening civic participation and leadership.

The National Female Youth Member of Parliament Anna Adeke Ebaju, urged the youth delegates to take up management positions available at all levels to prepare them for later leadership at national and regional levels.
Adeke said that her positions as Guild President at Makerere University and later Speaker of the Students Council had prepared and given her experience to serve as Member of Parliament at the national level.
She said that despite their numbers, few or no governments had charged the youth with power to make decisions on especially issues that affect them. She urged the youth not be afraid to take up leadership positions at all levels, in Church, sports or the community because Africa needs the youths experience.

In their first session, the Commonwealth Youth delegates will debate issues regarding Youth Unemployment, Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and harnessing Youth in Leadership. Their other debates throughout the week are to focus on Teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, Youth and Social Media among others.

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The AIGP Grace Turyagumanawe (standing front) inspects Police officers in the examination hall. Photo by Uganda Police

The Uganda police force directorate of Peace Support Operations has conducted the second aptitude test in English on a total number of 587 under the African Union (AU) Pre -Assessment for Assistance Mission service (AMS) at Nsambya Youth Sharing Hall on April 3 2018.

The AIGP Grace Turyagumanawe, the Director Peace Support Operations Uganda police force said the exams were to prepare officers to seat for a much bigger examination where they would compete at continental level.

Grace added that the exams are prepared by African Union and would select those who will qualify to be deployed in any Mission in Africa country in need. The tedious examination process will successfully see candidates join foreign missions for the next two years.

The AIGP also noted that those who qualify for the interview must be attested members of the police force, not on probation, served at least for five years and with no any acts of indiscipline in their files, a valid driving permit and a passport.

He highlighted benefits of Uganda police officers going for peace missions among which include exposing the   personnel to international policing experience and improving their welfare.

He explained that the experience they acquire from the mission helps the force in applying the operational skills in policing and promoting transparency.

Read also: general security report during Easter Festivities

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This came barely few days after the pan African Parliament resolved to compel African governments where FGM is being practiced to put more emphasis on ending this practice which violating girls rights girls rights .

Kadogo who is also the woman mp for Buyende district says that the Female genital mutilation passed into law in 2009 has failed its implementation for relying on politicians.

She says that the politicians have refused to guide their people to abandon Female genital mutilation practice hence rise in this practice in areas of sebei and karamoja sub region.

Female genital mutilation  is practiced by 1%  of Uganda’s population and among specific ethnic groups namely the Sabiny in Kapchorwa, Bukwo and Kween districts, the Pokot, Tepeth and Kadam in Nakapiripirit and  Amudat district within the Karamoja sub region.

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“The interviews are prepared by the department of Peace Keeping Operation in New York in collaboration with the countries that requested .” said the Director of Peace Support Operations in Uganda Police Force , AIGP Grace Turyagumanwe. Turyagumanwe made the remarks while briefing the officers at Namboole today (23/10/2017).

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Dr. Kazibwe

Members of parliament are still divided over Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe’s bid for the chairperson of the African Union despite claims that 1 billion shillings was invested by government  for her candidature for this job.

The woman member of parliament for Dokolo district Cecilia Ogwal asked Ugandans who have contrary views about Dr. Wandira Kazibwe’s candidature for the AU job to tone down their statements. She says that people with issues with Dr. Wandira should wait on and allow the country take over this job, she added that there are people who had done worst things than valley dams where Wandira Kazibwe was implicated but were elevated to higher levels.
She says that Kazibwe never censored over valley dam scandal.

The member of parliament for Budadiri west Nathan Nandala Mafabi says that the government should come up and own up to the mistakes of Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe before any one calls others to keep what bad things they know about Wandira Kazibwe to themselves.

The  27th African Union Summit that is convening  in Kigali under the chairmanship of Rwandan president, Paul Kagame will elect a new chairperson of the AU Commission.

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After months of conflict and over 70 deaths – the latest being three people killed in gunfire and grenade blast on Saturday 28^th June, the elections are happening amidst international and local critism. Pie Ntavyohanyuma spoke to France 24 “For the moment, I am forced to stay in Brussels… I stayed here given the difficulties in my country, difficulties which are due to the illegal third mandate of the president,” He told the agency “I would like to say to him [Nkurunziza] that the mandate he wants to have is illegal. I would like to say to him that forcing through the election is senseless.” “I personally advised President Nkurunziza to drop his plan for a third term, but his answer was to threaten me, to humiliate me,” he added.

The African Union announced Sunday it would not act as an observer in the parliamentary polls, “Noting that the necessary conditions are not met for the organisation of free, fair, transparent and credible elections… the AU Commission will not observe the local and parliamentary elections,” commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said in a statement.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed concerns about the Government’s insistence on going ahead with elections on 29 June despite the prevailing political and security environment in the country and he had previously called for the elections to be delayed. A statement issued on Sunday read “The Secretary-General reiterates his appeal to all Burundian political leaders to consider the wider interest of the people of their country and to resolve political issues through dialogue in order to preserve peace and strengthen national reconciliation. Condemning recent attacks reported in the country, he appeals to all Burundians to refrain from violent acts, in line with the Charter of Non-Violence agreed by all parties.”

As opposition declared a boycott of the elections, the election commission chief Pierre-Claver Ndayicariye told reporters “Everything is ready in the country,” Sunday, saying all voting material had been delivered to the polling centres across the country.

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Some legislators say that the attempted arrest of President Omar Al-Bashir is lessons to some African Presidents, who are dictators, cling to power and commit atrocities. The High Court in Pretoria on Sunday extended an order preventing Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir from leaving South Africa, where he had gone to attend an African Union Summit, until it made a final decision on calls for his arrest on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

However, yesterday President Omar Al-Bashir left South Africa for Khartoum were he received a hero’s welcome, although it was established that he is wanted for war crimes. This pre-empted a court ruling over an international warrant for his arrest.

Kaberamaido District Woman Member of Parliament Florence Ibi said it should be a warning to all presidents who take power and refuses to hand over power and turn against their subjects. Marunzi county MP in Lira District, Maxwell Akora, noted that this attempt gives a signal to all African Leaders who practice impunity.

Bughendera County MP in Bundibugyo District, Matte Joseph Sibalinghaha, was of another view; he said that it is unfortunate that ICC is biased because it arrests only African Leaders and leaves western Leaders. Matte says African Leaders should be handed over to African Union for prosecution to keep the sovereignty of the country.

The Pretoria High Court issued an order for Mr Bashir’s arrest hours after his aircraft left the country. The deputy prosecutor James Stewart told the BBC “We still remain quietly optimistic and determined to see justice done in this case.”

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This was in line with Rule 28(b) of the PAP Rules of Procedure which stipulates that “Parliament shall discuss the budget of the Union and make recommendations through the Permanent Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs to the Assembly.”

The 2016 draft budget is based on priorities of the Organs of the Union. Guided by the Agenda 2063, it is aimed at spearheading Africa’s rapid integration, prosperity and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African states.

The 2016 Budget was the first budget to be submitted after the adoption of the new Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR) which include implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

It is also the first budget to be submitted under the newly composed Internal Budget Review Committee which is made up of all the heads of AU organs and agencies and is chaired by the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

The Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs made recommendations which were adopted by the Committee of the whole house. The order of priorities in the2016 budget is to promote peace, security and stability; promote human rights, democracy and good governance in Africa.

Additionally, PAP should take a lead role in the campaign for alternative sources of funding for the AU programmes. This translates into, the need for member states to be more committed to contributions to attract partner funding among others.

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