Summary:

• President Museveni urges utilizing human progress for the betterment of mankind and criticizes the misuse of knowledge for oppression during his address at the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in Kampala.

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“Let us focus on harnessing human progress in the fight against the oppression of mankind by nature, rather than exploiting scientific and technological advancements for parasitic purposes,” he stated.

President Museveni delivered these remarks today while inaugurating the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Kampala.

Scheduled from January 3rd to 6th, 2024, the conference brings together Speakers and Presiding Officers from the national parliaments of independent sovereign states within the Commonwealth. Established in 1969 by the then Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, the Honourable Lucien Lamoureux, Canada has provided CSPOC with a secretariat to support its activities.

The conference’s objectives include maintaining impartiality and fairness among Parliament Speakers and Presiding Officers, promoting knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy, and developing parliamentary institutions.

President Museveni reflected on the formation of the Commonwealth, highlighting that even after defeating the dangerous illusion of empires/imperialism, the member countries retained certain aspects inherited from the British, such as the English language and the concept of representative government.

Despite acknowledging the benefits of the Commonwealth, the President expressed concerns about persistent philosophical and ideological shallowness, as well as chauvinism among some actors. He emphasized the importance of recognizing human progress in taming natural phenomena for the betterment of human life, citing examples like the invention of fire, agriculture, steam engines, electricity, and vaccines.

President Museveni criticized the misuse of knowledge for oppression due to greed and strategic shallowness. He argued that such actions lead to the downfall of empires, urging for a shift towards symbiosis instead of parasitism.

He further encouraged leaders to lead by example and promote peaceful coexistence, emphasizing the importance of respecting the dignity of every individual. The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, expressed gratitude for President Museveni’s support in facilitating inter-parliamentary engagements and organizing the conference.

She expressed confidence that the conference would serve as a platform to enhance collective efforts towards equity, inclusivity, democratisation, good governance, and the rule of law within the Commonwealth for the benefit of humanity. The conference was attended by various dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali, Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other notable figures.