Parliament on Wednesday paid tribute to the late Queen of England, Elizabeth II describing her leadership as extraordinary in the development of the commonwealth.
During the sitting attended by the British High Commissioner to Uganda, Kate Airey, and other dignitaries, a framed portrait of the Queen stood in front of the mace; the Speaker’s symbol of authority and other portraits displayed on screens erected in the Chamber.
Queen Elizabeth was the head of the Commonwealth association boasting of 56 sovereign States and 2.4 billion people, majority of whom are in former territories of the British Empire. Until her death on Thursday, the Queen was the patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) of which the Parliament of Uganda is a member since 1989.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja moved a motion to pay tribute to the late Queen saying that she had presided over the commonwealth with distinction and that throughout her reign, she played an important unifying role that reinforced the links by which the Commonwealth joins people together across the globe.
“During her reign, Her Majesty undertook more than 200 visits to Commonwealth countries and visited almost every country of the Commonwealth, two of which were made to Uganda in April 1954 and later in November 2007. Her visits to Uganda exhibited passion and commitment and contributed immensely to Uganda’s development and global standing as exemplified by the ability to host international conferences, and ultimately encouraged direct investment and tourism, along others,” said Nabbanja.
Nabbanja said that the late Queen has modernized and transformed the Commonwealth into an association that fosters international co-operation and trade links and also into an association that upholds democracy, good governance, peace, rule of law, respect of human rights and access to justice.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa described the late Queen as an action-driven monarch, who served with passion and commitment something that left the world in admiration.
Before these statements to the special sitting of parliament, Tayebwa told MPs that Queen Elizabeth had cultivated a close relationship with parliaments under the commonwealth association.
Iin her address to Parliament in 2007, Queen Elizabeth said that what had helped sustain a modern Uganda was the attribute that was evident in 1954, the generous manner she had been welcomed for the CHOGM and the great warmth and friendliness of the people.
Just like the Queen, Tayebwa said that MPs should exercise purposeful leadership, being the change that they want to see, never underestimate the power of fashion, giving generously, and keeping calm and carrying on.
On behalf of the Leader of Opposition, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the Butambala County MP said that there is need to recall the address of Queen Elizabeth to the Parliament of Uganda in which she called for the supremacy of parliamentary democracy.
He added that the death of the Queen should be a lesson to Uganda to ensure a laid down transition process once a head of State leaves power.
A section of MPs also applauded the Queen for her exemplary leadership and commended the United Kingdom for several projects funded across the Uganda.
Tayebwa directed the Clerk to Parliament to extract a copy of the Hansard and the resolution made in honor of the late Queen and avail it to the British High Commission.
