The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has been elected President of the African Geopolitical Group at the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Kadaga’s was elected on Sunday,23rd October 2016 during the meeting of the African Geopolitical Group at the ongoing 135th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speakers from Ethiopia and Madagascar withdrew their candidature in favour of Ms Kadaga whom they described as a woman of “good stature and defender of women and human rights.” By this position, Ms Kadaga will be leading all African parliaments that are members of the IPU. She will, on behalf of IPU, coordinate pertinent governance and emergency matters on the African continent.
In her new role she will coordinate pertinent and emergency matters on the African Continent.
In her acceptance speech, Speaker urged world leaders to address issues that force Africans to migrate to Europe.
She cited migrants from different African countries who make perilous journeys across seas in search of greener pastures but end up drowning at times with their families.
“We have to mitigate the effects of migration,” she said, adding : “The African people continue to be trafficked, they continue to be killed, they continue to be drowned by the transporters. The mediteranian sea is now the grave yard of the African people, we should put more effort to see what is really happening to the African people ”.
She also said she would remind both the Ugandan government and the UN to ensure women are included on peace missions because women bear the brunt of conflict more than anyone else.
