Tayebwa Seeks Commonwealth Expertise to Strengthen Parliament

What the report says

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has said Uganda’s Parliament plans to draw on the Commonwealth Secretariat and the experience of other member states to improve how the legislature works. According to Watchdog Uganda, he made the comments on Wednesday during a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who was visiting Uganda for the first time in her current role. Foreign Affairs Minister Adonia Ayebare also attended the meeting.

Tayebwa said Parliament wants support to build the skills of MPs and staff and to speed up the digitisation of parliamentary processes. He also suggested exchanges and study visits so Ugandan lawmakers and parliamentary staff can learn from other parliaments. Botchwey, for her part, said she wanted to understand how Parliament carries out its accountability role and how the Commonwealth could support Uganda. She said the legislature can help strengthen democracy, accountability and freedoms, which align with the Commonwealth’s goals.

The discussion also touched on ways to make the Commonwealth more relevant to younger people, including ideas around education, entrepreneurship, skills development, youth dialogue and climate adaptation. Tayebwa separately said Parliament is performing its oversight duties effectively, while opposition Chief Whip Paul Mwiru said the current Parliament has created a more respectful atmosphere and given opposition lawmakers room to do their work.