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President Museveni urged Africa to overcome the impact of colonial policies, emphasizing the need for homegrown solutions. Speaking at the Commonwealth Speakers Conference, he called on parliamentarians to discard neo-colonial ideologies and embrace technology for development.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni delivered a compelling address on January 4, 2024, urging Africa to liberate itself from the enduring impacts of colonial policies hindering the continent’s progress. Speaking at the Commonwealth Speakers Conference (CSPOC24) convened by the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, RT Hon. Anita Among, at the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo, Kampala, President Museveni emphasized the imperative for Africa to forge its own path in development. He underscored the limitations imposed by inherited foreign policies, advocating for a shift towards resolving internal challenges rather than perpetuating dependency on external solutions.

Highlighting that Africa lags behind due to the inherited foreign policies of colonialists, President Museveni urged a focus on homegrown solutions to propel advancement. He called upon the Commonwealth Parliament to lead their nations’ transformation by discarding neo-colonial ideologies and embracing technology. While acknowledging the contentious legacy of imperialism, he suggested embracing the positive remnants while breaking away from detrimental aspects.

President Museveni articulated, “Although imperialism was satanic in nature, it inadvertently gave birth to the Commonwealth, uniting 2.4 billion people. This collective population can serve as a catalyst for the development of nations within the Commonwealth.”

President Museveni having a pep talk with Speaker Anita Among

Echoing these sentiments, Speaker Anita Among emphasized the conference’s focal points, including youth and gender, health, security, environment, human rights, the rule of law, democratic expansion, and the enhancement of parliamentary debate quality. She expressed gratitude to President Museveni for facilitating the conference, characterizing the event as a pivotal milestone in the nation’s legislative history.

The Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Parliaments, scheduled until January 6th, 2024, with 33 out of 43 confirmed speakers in attendance, represents a collaborative effort toward driving progressive changes and fostering deeper intra-Commonwealth cooperation.

Notable participants include the Speaker of the Dominican Republic, Botswana, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Kenya, The Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Singapore, Samoa, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Uganda, and Zambia.