KAMPALA- South Africa’s former President, Thabo Mbeki on July 23, paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of Parliament to champion the cause for African integration.
According to the Speaker, the visiting delegation is desirous of securing support from Uganda’s Parliament for the integration project of the African continent.
“I applauded their mission and promised that relevant committees of our August House would brainstorm on the issue. Thereafter, I would communicate to the trio and the African Union in general, what our MPs decision would be,” Hon. Kadaga said.
President Mbeki was accompanied by two eminent African officials who included Ambassador Mohammed Ali Guy, a Special Envoy of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); and Mr Ramtane Lamamra from the African Union.
The latter designation’s is High Representative for Silencing the Guns in Africa (SGA).
On Tuesday, July 23, Mr Mbeki met President Yoweri Museveni at State house in Nakasero and reviewed the progress of integration in the Horn of Africa.
President Mbeki is the head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on the Horn of Africa (AUHIP).
He informed Mr Museveni that his Panel is on a mission of addressing the challenges of the integration of the Horn of Africa that calls for looking deeply and objectively into the pillars of security, economic and political perspective.
Hon Kadaga noted that Mr Mbeki told her that although his team had held discussions with President Yoweri Museveni, it was imperative that Uganda’s Legislature be in tandem with the mission objectives.
“This is a task that concerns the region; whole of Africa; and the Red Sea …. and which should not only be left to the Executive (central government). People’s representatives (MPs) should have an input,” he said.
