Thursday, 22 November 2007
Parliament met at 11.45 a.m. in Parliament House, Kampala.
(Procession including the Rt Hon. Speaker, Edward Ssekandi; His Excellency the President,
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II entered the Chamber.)
United Kingdom Anthem (One Verse)
Uganda National Anthem (Two Verses)
11. 48
THE SPEAKER: Your Majesty, Your Excellency the President, may I invite you to take your
seats.
Your Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and your Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of
Edinburgh; Your Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda
and the First Lady, hon. Janet Museveni; Your Excellency, the Vice-President of Uganda, Rt
Hon. Deputy Speaker; Rt Hon. Prime Minister, Leader of Government Business in Parliament;
the Hon. Leader of the Opposition; honourable ministers, hon. Members of Parliament,
distinguished invited guests, ladies and gentlemen; I am confident that I speak on behalf of every
Member of Parliament and distinguished dignitaries gathered here today, when I express the very
immense pleasure and singular honour that it gives us in welcoming Your Majesty and Your
Royal Highness to the Parliament of Uganda.
The records authoritatively have it that Your Majesty last paid a visit to Uganda in April 1954. In
concluding his report to the country on that visit, which took place between 28th and 30th April
1954, the then Governor of Uganda, His Excellency Sir Andrew Cohen, stated as follows: “It is
the fervent hope of all in Uganda that time is not far distant when Her Majesty and His Highness
will pay the protectorate a return visit.” (Laughter) It has turned out to be 53 years since you last
paid a visit to Uganda. We are however mindful that presently, the Commonwealth of which you
are the head consists of 53 countries, Uganda inclusive. It is therefore clearly evident that you
have completed the circuit and found that after 53 years, it was once again Uganda’s turn to be
visited by Your Majesty. (Laughter) We thank God who has willed that this be so and we heartily
welcome Your Majesty and His Royal Highness.
We are also happy that the Heads of Government of other 52 countries in the Commonwealth
have converged in Uganda to witness this historic royal visit that is a precursor to the CHOGM.
Since 1954 when Your Majesty came to inaugurate the Owen Falls Hydro-electric Scheme at
Jinja, we recall vividly the two memorable, historical occasions in Uganda when Your Majesty
was very ably represented by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, who was accompanied by
the Duchess of Kent. The first one was on 9th October 1962 on the occasion of Uganda’s
attainment of independence. The second occasion was the following day, the 10th October 1962
when His Royal Highness, the Duke opened the first Parliament of Independent Uganda in this
very Chamber within the complex of parliamentary buildings that were generously donated to the
people of Uganda by Your Majesty’s Government. (Applause)
The buildings had earlier been commissioned on 19th September 1960 by Your Majesty’s
Secretary for Colonies, Rt Hon. Ian McLeod, in preparation for hosting the Parliament of
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independent Uganda. I speak out of deep belief and trust when I say that the people of Uganda
shall eternally remain indebted to Your Majesty’s Government for that kind gift. (Applause)
It was a great gesture of goodwill; we are properly using this unique gift to entrench the
constitutional rule and good governance for our dear country. (Applause)
We are further thankful for the generous assistance and steady collaboration our Parliament
continues to receive from Your Majesty’s Government and other British non-government
agencies.
Your Majesty, it is a great pleasure and honour for Uganda to have been allowed to host the
CHOGM 2007, which you will officially open tomorrow. We highly commend our President, His
Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for the good leadership that has enabled Uganda to host
Your Majesty and his Royal Highness -(Applause)- and also CHOGM 2007, which two events
are great landmarks in the history of Uganda.
Finally, may I wish Your Majesty and His Royal Highness a very pleasant and rewarding visit
and safe journey back home? It is now my singular honour and greatest pleasure to invite Your
Majesty to address Parliament. I thank Your Majesty and may God bless you abundantly. Long
live the Queen. (Applause)
11.57
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Your Excellency, President Museveni and Mrs Museveni, Rt Hon.
Speaker, hon. Members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen; Prince Philip and I have many fond
memories of our last visit together to Uganda. Many years since, your country has made
considerable advances in spite of periods of adversity. I expect that what has helped sustain
modern Uganda is the attribute that was so evident in 1954, and again today, in the generous
manner we have been welcomed; the great warmth and friendliness of its people. We are
delighted to be here once more. (Applause)
It gives me great pleasure to address this House today in recognition of the importance of
parliamentary democracy to the Commonwealth as a whole. For Uganda, the deliberations and
decisions of this House, together with your respect for the rule of law, have had and will continue
to have an essential bearing on the country’s success in addressing many serious challenges.
United Kingdom is actively committed to supporting Uganda’s efforts to deepen its democracy.
(Applause)
Many in the United Kingdom have been moved by the plight of the people of Northern Uganda
who have been suffering from the devastating conflict there. Ugandan Government’s efforts to
resolve this conflict peacefully are therefore especially welcome. (Applause) Uganda’s regional
role is also widely appreciated. In particular, the contribution made to peace keeping operations in
Somalia -(Applause)- has been a tribute to the courage and professionalism of Uganda’s armed
forces.
I am also pleased that the educational and cultural ties between our two countries are now
stronger that ever before. Through its collaborative school projects, the British Council is
bringing together more than one million children across Africa and the United Kingdom. Indeed,
I very much look forward to visiting later this week one of the Ugandan schools participating in
the Connecting Classrooms Programme, which does so much to increase our knowledge and
understanding of each other’s societies among young people.
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In the years since Prince Philip and I were last here, one change in particular has come to scar
Uganda and indeed much of Africa. The scourge of HIV infection and AIDS has touched the
lives of so many of Uganda’s people. It is difficult sometimes, when the sorrow associated with
this disease is so profound, to avoid a sense of despair. And yet, there are growing numbers of
people and organisations whose work gives cause for real hope.
Today, I visited the Mildmay Centre, which sets a remarkable example in provision of care and
relief for those who are ill as well as in educating people about how to protect themselves and
their families. The role of centres such as this, which the Government of Uganda has done so
much to encourage, will be central to achieving our common aim of controlling this cruel disease.
Continued and enlightened support of all those in authority, including this House, will play an
essential part in supporting these efforts.
One hundred years ago, Sir Winston Churchill, who much later became my first Prime Minister,
made a celebrated visit to Uganda, which he was moved to describe as the “Pearl of Africa”.
(Applause) In common with other visitors to this country over the years, he had been struck by
how Uganda has been truly gifted by nature. (Applause) Sir Winston had visited Munyonyo, then
just a jetty and a few sheds, where most fittingly, the present British Prime Minister will join his
fellow Commonwealth Heads of Government this weekend.
Whether the individual links are long standing or more recent, the United Kingdom remains a
committed friend of Uganda. (Applause) Prince Philip and I have reason to recall our own
associations over the years with the greatest affection and extend to you all our good wishes for
the years to come. (Applause)
THE SPEAKER: Your Majesty, permit me to thank you very much for the gracious, very
encouraging address you have just delivered to us. It now gives me the greatest pleasure to invite
His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda to address us. (Applause)
12. 02
THE PRESIDENT OF UGANDA (Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni): Your Majesty, the Queen
of Great Britain, Northern Island and the Head of the Commonwealth; Your Royal Highness, the
Duke of Edinburgh; the Rt Hon. Speaker of Parliament, hon. Members of Parliament, do not get
worried that I will give a long speech today. (Laughter) There is time for that.
Your Majesty, you are most welcome to the Parliament of Uganda. (Applause) In the pre-colonial
times, this part of the world was governed under indigenous monarchies that were not noted for
respecting political and human rights. Towards the end of the brief colonial period – because the
colonial period was brief, just 70 years is not a long time – democratic institutions were
introduced. First, in the Legislative Council, the LEGCO as it was called, in 1955 through the use
of electoral colleges and then universal adult suffrage in 1961 for the first Parliament elected
under universal suffrage. We achieved our independence in 1962 under a multiparty constitution.
Owing to the distortions in the social structure of our country and an immature state – a state
which was not very developed - this experiment lasted only four years. By 1966, we had entered a
constitutional crisis. In 1971, with Idi Amin coming to the scene, we went from the frying pan to
the fire proper, to use the words of the late Mwalimu Nyerere. We had to go through two
revolutionary wars of 1971-1979 and 1981-1986. However, in 1994, the Ugandans re-launched
their democratic efforts by, through universal adult suffrage, electing a constituent assembly, the
CA as it was called, that debated and promulgated a new constitution that is the supreme law in
Uganda ever since. (Applause)
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Our Constitution is among the most democratic constitutions in the world -(Applause)- and you
know I have read many constitutions. It does not only provide for 214 constituencies that are
competed for by all adults above the age of 18 with an A’ Level education or equivalent, but it
also provides for reserved constituencies for women. Your Majesty, many of the women you see
sitting here would not be here if it were not for this provision. (Laughter) Under the other survival
for the fittest provision, only 13 women came through out of 214 constituencies, including hon.
Janet, my wife. (Laughter) Therefore, Your Majesty, we have these 80 women elected under this
special arrangement. There are five seats for the youth, there are five seats for the disabled, there
are five seats for the workers. These, Your Majesty -(Interjections)- then there are ten seats for
the Army. (Laughter)
The Constitution also provides for devolution of powers to 80 local governments at district level
and 13 municipalities. As if that is not enough, there are 1026 sub-counties that are the lowest
local government and planning units. Leadership at all these levels is elected by universal adult
suffrage. Ours therefore is a massive democratic exercise. I am, therefore, most pleased, Your
Majesty, to accompany you to this august House. I thank you very much. (Applause)
THE SPEAKER: On your behalf, I want to thank his Excellency the President for his speech.
This marks the end of our ceremony. Thank you all for coming to witness this very memorable
occasion in the history of our Parliament and our country. Your Majesty, you may now retire
from the Chambers and proceed to the lobby to sign the visitors’ book.
(Procession including the Rt Hon. Speaker, Edward Ssekandi; His Excellency the President,
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II withdrew from the Chambers.)
(Parliament rose at 12.09 p.m. and adjourned sine die)
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