Mr Tayebwa led a Ugandan delegation at the ongoing 61st session of the Organisation of the African, Caribean and Pacific States Parliamentary Assembly (OACPS PA) and 42nd Session of the ACP-European Union joint Parliamentary Assembly (ACP-EU JPA) in Maputo City, Mozambique has vowed to oppose plans by pro-gay nations to impose the promotion of homosexuality and abortion as new conditions for trade and aid relationships with European Union.
“The EU is demanding that we take a certain root, they should also know the character of our society. We are a society that isn’t ready for homosexuality and we are a society that’s not ready for abortion,” Tayebwa said.
The delegation which is attending a Joint Parliamentary Assembly is being led by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, a vocal critic of homosexuality, abortion and neocolonialism.
Other Members on the delegation include,
Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo the MP for Lwemiyaga County, Hon Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal, the Woman MP for Dokolo District, Hon Maurice Kibalya the MP for Bugabula South, Hon Elijah Okupa, the MP for Kasilo County, Dr Samuel Opio Acuti for MP Kole North and Hon Lucy Okello
The joint sitting was on Monday officially opened by President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique who commended the Organization for it’s prime role in the economic and social development of its member states.
“We as Africa, believe that the institution of the family is at the core of whatever we are doing,” Tayebwa added.
President Nyusi also called upon participating member states to focus more on the climate agenda and how to deal with risks related to Natural disasters.
The deputy speaker said member countries are also engaging on the post Cotonou Agreement which governs the ACP-EU relations.
Diplomatic, trade and aid relationships between the European Union and ACP states are governed by the Cotonou Agreement.
The agreement includes a dialoge on ‘’political issues of mutual concern or of general significance’’ and ‘’discrimination of any kind’’.
Tayebwa mentioned a deep concern over calls by the EU to adopt homosexuality by the ACP countries, a development he said Uganda would vehemently reject.
“We shall be making a report to our president as Parliament which will be a guiding tool before the signing of the Post Cotonou Agreement,” the deputy speaker said.
He added: “We are demanding that we broadly define the issue of human rights. We have discovered that with the Post Cotonou agreement, there hidden clauses around human rights. Clauses to do with Sexuality, promotion of LGBT/homosexuality and clauses to do with abortion.”
Tayebwa said such practices are un Africa and while “
Representatives from the pro-gay nations insist on an amendment to the ACP-EU rules to have the debate on the rights of homosexuals even after objections African members.
Issues related to climate change and food security; health and the fight against terrorism; women empowerment for political leadership; migration and sustainable growth, among other current matters have been discussed—with the ACP-EU describing Uganda’s women’s emancipation as one of the most successful ventures an African country has ever undertaken.
For more click here
By Dorothy Nalumansi
