Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has stepped up diplomatic engagement with the European Union and its partner states, proposing that Uganda host a major intercontinental parliamentary assembly next year.
Speaking after a high-level bilateral meeting in Brussels on Thursday, July 16, Tayebwa said discussions with his co-president of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, andTayebwa Pushes for Uganda to Host Key EU-ACP Parliamentary Assembly Pacific States–European Union (OACPS-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Francisco Assis, focused on strengthening cooperation across member states.
The meeting, held at the Egmont Palace, was also attended by Uganda’s Ambassador to the European Union, Mirjam Blaak.
Tayebwa described the talks as “strategic,” centring on shared priorities between the EU and 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries.
A key issue on the agenda was the ratification of the Samoa Agreement, a long-term framework expected to guide relations between the EU and ACP states over the next 20 years.
The agreement covers a wide scope of areas, including trade, human rights, climate change, migration, and economic development.
“Our discussions covered key inter-regional issues, particularly the ratification of the Samoa Agreement,” Tayebwa said, noting its significance in shaping future partnerships.
He added that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing parliamentary cooperation as a mechanism for driving policy alignment and accountability across regions.
“As Co-Presidents, we pledged to continue working together and exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between the EU and nations of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific from a parliamentary perspective,” he stated.
In a move aimed at boosting Uganda’s diplomatic profile, Tayebwa extended an invitation to Assis to visit East Africa. He also formally proposed that Uganda host the next OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
The proposal, if accepted, would position Uganda at the centre of critical discussions on global development, trade relations, and governance issues affecting multiple continents.