EU Parliament, Brussels: The Deputy Speaker of Parliament and President of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States Parliamentary Assembly, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa, held bilateral talks with Hon. Hilde Vautmans, Chair of the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly, at the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday.
The discussions focused on matters of mutual interest to Uganda and the European Union.
He was joined by the Ambassador of Uganda to the European Union, H.E. Mirjam Blaak.
Tayebwa conveyed heartfelt greetings from His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni—a steadfast ally in fostering global peace and stability—and extended a cordial invitation for her to visit the Pearl of Africa to strengthen collaboration and deepen strategic partnerships.
He further outlined Uganda’s governance evolution and its exceptional contribution to combating the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo while emphasizing our role in resolving regional conflicts through dialogue to foster enduring peace and stability.
“The European Union has proved to be a very reliable partner for Uganda over the last 50 years, and with the Samoa Agreement realigning our relationship from aid to partnership, I only see this relationship growing stronger and stronger with a clear impact on our people,” Tayebwa said.
Brussels, Belgium: Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament and President of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliamentary Assembly, Thomas Tayebwa, has urged OACPS member states to make trade, industrialisation and value addition central to their development agenda.
Tayebwa made the remarks while addressing the 121ST OACPS Council of Ministers at the Egmont Palace in Brussels.
He challenged the 79-member bloc to focus on practical economic issues that directly improve the livelihoods of citizens, saying the organisation’s relevance would increasingly be judged by its ability to champion policies that create jobs, strengthen regional industries and enable member states to derive greater value from their natural resources.
Tayebwa said one of the most pressing challenges confronting Africa and other developing regions is the continued export of unprocessed minerals.
He noted that the matter has long been championed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who has consistently argued that Africa cannot achieve meaningful prosperity while exporting raw materials and importing finished products.
“I think at the level of the Council of Ministers, we need to start tackling the hard questions relevant to our people. One of them is… the issue of Africa and the developing world exporting unprocessed minerals as raw materials,” Tayebwa said.
He backed his argument with figures showing that Africa holds an estimated US$29.5 trillion in mineral wealth, about 20 percent of the global total, but continues to lose substantial economic value because most of its minerals leave the continent in raw or minimally processed form. Instead of refining or manufacturing higher-value products locally, African countries export ores and concentrates, allowing other economies to capture the largest share of the value chain.
According to Tayebwa, this model has left Africa exporting employment opportunities and industrial growth alongside its natural resources. He observed that the continent processes only a small proportion of the minerals it produces, while countries that import those minerals generate far greater wealth through manufacturing.
He cited the Democratic Republic of Congo as an example of how value addition can transform economies, noting that increased domestic processing of cobalt significantly boosted the country’s revenues. He said such experiences should encourage OACPS member states to adopt deliberate policies that promote mineral beneficiation and industrialisation across the bloc.
Tayebwa also revisited one of President Museveni’s longstanding examples on the coffee value chain to illustrate how commodity-producing countries receive only a fraction of the wealth generated from the products they produce. The example, he said, demonstrates why African countries must move beyond exporting raw commodities and instead invest in processing and manufacturing industries that retain value at home.
“I remember my President gave us some feedback… the coffee market was worth around US$465 billion and out of that only US$25 billion was going to the coffee-producing countries, with Africa taking only 3%. Now, you producers, you produce US$465 billion worth of value and get only US$25 billion,” he said.
Tayebwa warned the OACPS Council of Ministers that unless the bloc redefines its priorities by focusing on issues that matter most to ordinary citizens, it risks losing its relevance.
“If we don’t tackle such issues, then the organisation will not be relevant to our people… We should look at topics that do speak to the hearts of our people, that do speak to the transformation of our people. That’s the only way the organisation will be relevant,” he said.
The OACPS brings together countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to promote cooperation on trade, sustainable development and political dialogue.
Tayebwa said the organisation should use its collective voice to champion policies that promote value addition, industrialisation and regional integration, enabling member states to create jobs, increase revenues and accelerate economic transformation.
Kiryandongo District NRM senior cadre and mobiliser, Hon. Likambo Bahti Taylor, has hailed the idea of changing the Parliamentary leadership with the NRM Government like to front Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth for the Speakership.
He said the move to change 12th Parliament leadership with Hon. Oboth Oboth at the helm is a great one which will likely eliminate corruption from the August house.
Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth is likely to be elected the Speaker of the 12th Parliament on 25th May
The former Speaker Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, her leadership Deputy Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa and their 11th Parliament leadership are under scrutiny after pending corruption scandal in the house with investigations underway. With the two out of the picture for the 12th Parliament leadership, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is said to have endorsed Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth for the speakership, a move that has been positively welcomed all over.
Likambo said the new leadership likely to be under Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth will eliminate corruption from the house.
“With Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba firmly glued on fighting corruption, we welcome the move with open arms and hopes to clean the country of corruption,” Likambo Bahti Taylor said.
Hon. Likambo Taylor Bahti has backed new pending new leadership in Parliament
Hon. Likambo Bahti Taylor who contested for Kibanda North County MP seat urged people of Kiryandongo to keep supporting government programs like Emyooga, Parish Development Model (PDM) and Operations Wealth Creation.
Masaka City Woman MP elect, Hon. Justine Nameere Nsubuuga, has told off Hon. Daudi Kabanda and asked him to stop intimidating the public over state of 12th Parliament leadership regarding RT. Hon. Anita Annet Among and her Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa.
Hon. Nameere speaking to this website, said they will not accept blackmail on Speaker Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among and her Deputy Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa.
Hon. Justine Nameere Nsubuuga with Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among
“Give this message to Kabanda! He should stop intimidating us. We shall not accept black mail on our Speaker and Deputy Speaker! He has black mailed MPs enough using Gen MK’s name, now he is black mailing the Speaker,” Hon. Justine Nameere Nsubuuga said.
Yesterday Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) though Daudi Kabanda released a statement withdrawing their support of Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among and Rt Hon. Thomas Tayebwa for the leadership of the new 12th Parliament whose term has started today.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has urged African legislators meeting under the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) to strongly push back against increasing interference by the European Parliament in the internal affairs of African countries.
Tayebwa, who also serves as OACPS president and co-president of the joint parliamentary assembly, made the call during a meeting of the Eastern Africa Regional Parliamentary Group in Ezulwini Valley, Eswatini. He said African states deserve greater respect for their sovereignty.
Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa
Tayebwa criticised a decision by the European Parliament to pass a resolution against Uganda’s elections and summon Uganda’s ambassador following the general elections in January, despite earlier positive assessments from EU observers who hailed the elections as free and fair.
“I think we need to caution our colleagues from the European Parliament to reduce interference in the matters of our countries,” Tayebwa said. “We have not interfered in how they are doing their things with Russia. They should leave our countries alone.”
He noted that a similar situation happened in Tanzania, where its ambassador was summoned after the elections. Tayebwa said such actions contradict the principles of mutual respect outlined in the Samoa Agreement under which the OACPS–EU Parliamentary Assembly operates.
Tayebwa added that there is no shortage of examples where the European Parliament has passed resolutions that hurt African countries. He said the European Parliament passed a resolution in 2022 to halt the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. This resolution was opposed and later rescinded during an OACPS meeting in Maputo. This, he said, demonstrates the value of standing firm against what is not right.
Ugandan MPs who are part of the delegation also raised similar sentiments, calling for a firm stand against intimidation by the European Parliament.
Maurice Kibaalya, MP for Bugabula County South, questioned the credibility of the Samoa Agreement and many other partnerships given such incidents of interference.
“How can we trust the agreements we are signing?” Kibaalya said. “Uganda ratified the Samoa Agreement in good faith, yet a parliament of another bloc is interfering in the affairs of an independent country.”
He said that the Samoa Agreement clearly provides for respect for sovereignty and diplomatic processes, warning that unilateral actions could discourage African states from committing to future agreements.
Echoing the concern, Amos Kankunda, MP for Rwampara County, condemned what he termed external meddling in domestic governance.
“We really condemn in the highest terms possible the idea of mingling in our internal politics,” Kankunda said. “We should be allowed to manage our own internal affairs as independent states.”
Dickson Kateshumbwa, MP for Sheema Municipality, also stressed that sovereignty must remain central in all international engagements.
“The independence that comes with ratifying agreements like the Samoa Agreement must be respected,” he said. “We condemn in the strongest terms any interference in our internal political processes.”
Let’s be united
Tayebwa urged African legislators to strengthen their approach to negotiations by identifying a few clear, shared priorities that can unite the continent.
“We must get one or two clear riding points that bring us together as Africa,” he said, noting that while other regions like the Caribbean are united by common challenges such as climate change, Africa must be more deliberate in defining its collective agenda.
He also emphasized the importance of thorough preparation, warning that European negotiators are highly detail-oriented.
“These are people who read everything—even a comma,” he said. “We must do the same if we are to negotiate effectively.”
Economic issues featured prominently in the discussions, particularly the need to maximize opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Tayebwa described it as the largest trading bloc globally but noted that African countries are yet to fully realize its benefits.
“We would benefit much more from the African Continental Free Trade Area than many of these external agreements,” he said.
Legislators also raised concerns about persistent non-tariff barriers that continue to limit African exports to European markets, affecting key products such as coffee, tea, and fish. At the same time, they noted that European goods continue to access African markets with fewer restrictions.
Climate Financing Commitments
Climate financing emerged as another critical issue, with lawmakers questioning the gap between international pledges and the actual disbursement of funds to African countries.
“They go to COP meetings and make commitments, but where is the money?” Tayebwa asked. “How is it helping our farmers?”
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has said he was honoured to represent his senior brother Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the Chief Runner at his 52nd Birthday Run, as they ran for charity and hope.
In the speech he delivered on his behalf, Gen. Muhoozi reflected on the journey of this event, from what was once a private celebration to what has now become a national movement that brings Ugandans together for a greater cause.
He shared how, over the years, encouragement from leaders such as Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Hon. Daudi Kabanda, Hon. LillianAber, and Mr. Andrew Mwenda, among others, as well as from young people, inspired him to open up this milestone to the public, transforming it into a platform for unity, patriotism and service.
Men this is for you
He expressed deep gratitude to all Ugandans who turned up in large numbers, noting that their presence demonstrates the strength of our collective spirit. He said the run is not about personal celebration, fame, or recognition but about standing together to support vulnerable and underprivileged children—orphans, street children, and those lacking basic needs such as food, education, and shelter.
He reminded us that every step taken and every contribution made sends a powerful message to these children: that they are not alone.
Gen. Muhoozi also paid tribute to the Patriotic League of Uganda for their steadfast and selfless leadership, as well as to the organizers, security agencies, medical teams, volunteers, and all partners who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the event a success.
He commended leaders across all sectors—political, religious, cultural, and corporate—for mobilizing communities and supporting this noble cause.
Most importantly, he thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni, his wife and children, Natasha, Diana, Patience, and other family members who have been part of his upbringing and have offered him unwavering support.
“What a monumental event this has been! Running for charity and hope is one of the most meaningful ways we can uplift those in need. The funds raised through this initiative will have a real and lasting impact on vulnerable communities. Thank you, Gen. Muhoozi, for dedicating your birthday to causes that uplift the hopes of the underprivileged,” Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa said.
The performance of the 11th Parliament has not gone unnoticed by the country’s political leadership. President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement have openly expressed support for Speaker Anita Among and her Deputy, signaling a preference for continuity at the helm of Parliament.
The President has particularly praised Speaker Among’s decision to go beyond the walls of Parliament and engage directly with communities across the country. During her travels, she has observed development challenges firsthand, including poor road infrastructure, and brought these concerns into national discussion. Museveni contrasted this hands-on approach with past leadership styles that were more office-bound, describing Among’s method as practical and people-centered.
Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among and Rt Hon. Thomas Tayebwa
For the NRM leadership, unity in Parliament is viewed as essential for stability and effective governance. Party officials argue that internal divisions in the August House would slow government business and distract from development priorities. In this context, maintaining the current parliamentary leadership is seen as the safer and more strategic option.
Among many MPs, the prevailing mood is one of comfort with the status quo. With Parliament functioning smoothly, passing laws efficiently, and maintaining internal harmony, there is little appetite for disruption. For supporters of the current leadership, the logic is simple: if it is working, don’t fix it.
Mitooma – The Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, has urged Ugandans to guard the country’s prevailing peace “like a glass,” warning that any recklessness could shatter the stability restored by the NRM.
He delivered the caution on Wednesday as President Yoweri Museveni and senior party leaders campaigned in Mitooma District.
Otafiire reminded the gathering of Uganda’s turbulent past. “We have spent 40 years in power but 20 years wasted in various wars. But now Uganda is stable,” he said.
“Open your eyes and see the peace we have created. Peace is like a glass, it’s good when you are still holding it. Once it drops down it can cut you. Those of you saying Museveni must go, just get behind us and we show you how we can protect your peace.”
He urged supporters to remain aligned with the NRM leadership: “Stay behind us and we show you how to hunt down the leopard. Don’t go ahead of us because the leopard might devour you and also kill us.”
He further cautioned against complacency ahead of the 2026 polls: “Let no one deceive you that we already have victory. Let all of you go for voting, those who are sick and those who are not.”
President Museveni opened his remarks by noting that peace in Uganda is a product of strong state institutions built by the NRM.
He highlighted Mitooma’s development milestones: “All sub-counties in Mitooma are connected to the national power grid apart from three.” He added, “I can see in my file that all villages have clean water,” and announced that “The road from Bwizi–Kabwohe–Kitagata will be extended to Mitooma.”
He called for disciplined planning: “Tell your MPs to consider prioritization. They should consider our advice of working on one project at a time.”
Museveni noted that “Mitooma is doing well in terms of social infrastructure,” citing the district’s 109 government-aided primary schools, 97 private primary schools, 16 government-aided secondary schools, one government hospital under construction, and health facilities—“HC4 – 1; HC3 – 9.”
The President reminded citizens not to confuse public development with household wealth.
“Stop confusing development with household wealth. When we entered the government, we introduced the four-acre model for those with limited land acreage. Many people did not take our advice seriously but some few people heeded our call and are doing very well.” He referenced two farmers from Busoga and Karamoja who have become high earners through the model.
He encouraged commercial farming for landowners with larger acreage. “Cotton can bring money but it needs when you have grown on a large scale. Each acre can bring in Shs1m,” he said.
“Tea and maize also need extensive land. As long as you can do your calculations and get a profit, you are free to plant what you want.”
He announced: “I’m going to start a loan scheme for large-scale farmers so that they can buy fertilizers, especially the tea, coffee and maize farmers.”
Museveni celebrated Uganda’s rising agricultural output. “Many people have become wealthy through coffee farming. Uganda has benefitted from coffee farmers because currently we produce 9 million bags of coffee compared to the three million bags years back. Uganda also produces five billion litres of milk up from 3.8 billion in 2023. All this is part of the contribution by NRM. Uganda has never been wealthy as it is now.”
He emphasized NRM’s role in job creation. “The NRM government has created jobs for thousands of people through various ways. The government has created the environment for private investors to create jobs for hundreds of people. The government has also established industrial parks where many factories are employing hundreds of people. Namanve employs 44,000. So this is a contribution of the NRM, advising people to invest in various projects.”
Responding to community concerns, Museveni said he would instruct authorities to erect an electric fence around Queen Elizabeth National Park to stop wildlife from destroying gardens. He also pledged an industrial hub for Greater Bushenyi.
First Lady Maama Janet Museveni thanked God for guiding Uganda through its troubled past. “I want to thank God for guiding President Museveni to steer the country into a peaceful nation. All those wars that the country has gone through, we must thank God for guiding NRM. Let us not forget where we have come from. Many of the citizens are young and they did not experience many of the wars this country has gone through.”
She praised Deputy Speaker Tayebwa “for uniting NRM leaders, especially those who had tried to contest as independents,” and thanked Afande Otafiire “for speaking like a senior elder, recalling the bad old days.”
She encouraged those who understand Uganda’s history to strengthen the NRM so the country can continue progressing, saying Uganda has become a beacon of hope in a region where many countries remain unstable.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa thanked President Museveni for granting Mitooma District status and pledged overwhelming support for NRM. “We shall move around Greater Bushenyi hunting for votes. This time we want to score 98%,” he said.
Tayebwa also thanked Maama Janet for praying for the country, emphasising that peace is one of Uganda’s greatest achievements. He requested fertilizers to improve agricultural yields, assistance in securing land titles for families that settled here in the 1950s.
Kazo: President Yoweri Museveni on Friday took his campaign trail to Kazo District, where he was warmly received by thousands of residents and local leaders.
The rally drew notable figures, including former Works Minister John Nasasira, who praised the President for what he described as decades of commitment toward transforming Uganda from “backwardness to progress.”.
Nasasira reminded the crowd that in 2016, Kazo leaders asked the President for district status—a request that was granted in 2019. He noted that since then, the area has continued to receive significant development support.
“We are grateful that after giving us a district, you continued to send development resources. Today we have electricity, water, health facilities, ICT services, and better roads,” Nasasira said.
He commended the district leadership and the NRM campaign machinery, describing it as “one of the most well-organized campaigns in the country,” and predicted a landslide victory.
Nasasira thanked Museveni for “liberating Uganda from backwardness,” adding that poverty levels had fallen drastically over the years. He also presented community requests, including the construction of the Kazo–Kyegegwa road, extension of water from Ibanda to Kazo, and the establishment of a technical institute. He lauded government scientists for advancements in vaccine development and tick resistance.
President Museveni, in his address, emphasized that peace and unity remained the foundation of Uganda’s progress, crediting the NRM for ending sectarian divisions and building strong security institutions.
He highlighted major infrastructure achievements, citing roads connecting Lyantonde, Kiruhura, Kazo, Ibanda, Kamwenge, and Fort Portal.
The President assured residents that government would deliver more services, including water from Katonga and the upgrade of Kazo Health Centre IV to hospital status. He also confirmed that construction of the road through Kyegegwa and Hapuyo would soon begin, following agreements with Chinese partners.
Museveni used the rally to remind citizens about the difference between development and personal wealth, urging them to embrace commercial farming and better animal husbandry. He praised model farmers in the region and encouraged residents to adopt high-output practices such as large-scale animal feed production.
“Uganda is fortunate to have abundant coffee and milk. Our farmers are already benefiting, and we no longer import milk from Kenya,” he said, pointing to improved agricultural output under initiatives like Operation Wealth Creation.
He also highlighted job creation driven by industrial parks, noting that Mbale Industrial City employs about 12,000 people while Namanve hosts over 44,000 workers.
Museveni concluded by urging NRM supporters to continue focusing on wealth creation at household level, saying it was the key to sustainable prosperity.
Kibale East County MP seat NRM flag bearer for 2026 who also doubles as the current MP and Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze has taken his third week of campaigns trail to Kamwenge. He said its great fun to interact with wanainchi.
“I am very happy to see (as we cross many villages on our campaign trail ) many homes having on average 0.5-1 acre of coffee planted and also another good number of medium scale farmers with 10 acres and above also coming up…. Kamwenge is slowly emerging as a coffee hub. We used previously to dominate with maize, but it wasn’t that rewarding. I thank the President for his clarion calls on farming with #Ekibaro. #ProtectingTheGains,” Hon. Frank Tumwebaze said.
In related development, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze has appealed to hi bosses Rt Hon Annet Anitah Among (Speaker) and Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa to design a parliamentary calendar that allocates reasonable amount of recess time to MPs so to regularly have community barazas with constituents. He said they should do this if they continue to serve in those capacities or whoever will be there.
“Our people need to be listened to and we need to give them much attention,” Hon. Frank Tumwebaze said.
He said campaigns are tiring, but they offer an opportunity to the contestants canvassing, to listen, interact and have fun with their constituents/voters.
“You get to understand so deeply issues affecting people’s lives and livelihoods. You get to see the humble efforts of those working hard to improve themselves. You also get to learn some funny games of those that try to mislead & exploit our innocent wanainchi,” he said.
