Tayebwa calls for stronger mandate among regional parliamentary groups

What the report says

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has urged parliamentarians from the Pacific region to back proposed reforms aimed at strengthening the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliamentary Assembly and giving the three regional blocs a stronger role in its work. According to Watchdog Uganda, Tayebwa discussed the proposals with the Pacific Parliamentary Group in Brussels on Thursday, 5 November 2026, in his capacity as OACPS President and Co-President of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

A central part of the reform push is financial independence. Tayebwa proposed a common fund supported by contributions from the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, replacing what he described as heavy reliance on outside financing. The article says members in earlier talks had raised concerns that external funding made planning difficult and limited the assembly’s ability to pursue its own priorities.

He also called for stronger regional representation in leadership, better functioning committees and working groups, and wider engagement with parliamentary bodies beyond the European Parliament. Tayebwa said the Pacific region could contribute on issues such as climate resilience, oceans, fisheries and connectivity. He argued that the assembly needs its own agenda and resources to operate more effectively.

The discussions in Brussels are part of broader consultations ahead of the 65th session of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly and related OACPS-EU joint meetings, which Tayebwa is set to co-chair. The proposals matter because they would reshape how the assembly is funded, led and represented across its member regions.