SAMOA 2024 CHOGM: President Yoweri Museveni has asked the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) to leverage on the existing 2.5billion people to address the biting challenges affecting the world.
Museveni said that “We should use this huge potential of convergence of thinking, practices and strategy to address the pressing global issues of poverty and wealth creation, peace, environment, health vis a vis pandemics.”
The president told delegates that in 1986, Uganda’s milk consumption per capita was 18 litres annually compared to 60 litres right now however right now, World Health Organisation recommends 210 litres per year.
“You can see the unutilized potential,” Museveni said, adding, “If you spread this yardstick to other forms of proteins, steel, textiles, and energy among other sectors, you can notice the unsmart way of utilizing the consumption levels of human race, equitably,” Mr. Museveni emphasized.
The president’s message was delivered by the Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo during the opening ceremony of the CHOGM 2024 in Apia, Samoa, yesterday 25th October, 2024.
He challenged delegates to focus all their energies on utilizing this potential purchasing power of the global population starting with the Commonwealth.
He further informed participants that Uganda has positively noticed the availability of United Kingdom funding for some infrastructure projects such as the Hoima International Airport and some value addition projects.
Mr. Museveni appreciated opportunities for trade with UK and other Commonwealth countries adding that the private sector actors from India have built many factories and other commercial ventures in Uganda.
“These enterprises produce goods and services, create jobs and pay taxes directly or indirectly,” however the president hastily added that what has been so far done, is merely scratching the surface.
“If you use the yardstick of consumption per capita of the commonwealth population, you can more easily appreciate the unutilized potential of business opportunities,” Museveni said.
The president reminded the meeting that when he first met Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth 11 in Buckingham Palace in 1987, on his way to the Chogm of Vancouver, he told her that commonwealth was unique organization in international affairs.
“It is probably the only organization, certainly one of the few ones, where we did not have to speak through interpreters. I told her that even in the African Union, we had to speak through interpreters,” Museveni said.
Museveni further told the Queen that this uniqueness should be used emphasizing that it is not the only shared phenomenon as we shared significant aspects of governance principles, such as the principle of one person, one vote at regular intervals and by secret ballot.
Additionally, the president said that the principle of separation of powers between the executive, Judiciary and the legislature another shared significant aspect.
The opening ceremony of the week-long commonwealth heads of government meeting which was graced by King Charles III.
VP Alupo is accompanied by Minister Okello Oryem, Uganda’s High Commissioner to United Kingdom (Great Britain) Nimisha Madhvan, Ambassadors Dorothy Hyuha and John L Mugerwa.
In her own remarks VP Alupo congratulated Prime Minister Naomi and the people of Samoa on hosting CHOGM in the beautiful city of Apia, and she expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to the Ugandan delegation.
