Articles

Friday; February 17, 2012

One hundred national parliaments and six observer missions have confirmed they will be attending the upcoming 126th Inter Parliamentary Union Assembly and Related Meetings scheduled for Kampala, Uganda, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has said.

Hon. Kadaga, the host Speaker of the Assembly, met Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Uganda at a breakfast meeting held at the Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, Friday, February 17, 2012.

“Invitations were sent out in December and early January (2012) to all 159 member parliaments of the IPU and nine observer missions. Confirmations have so far been received from at least 100 countries and six observer missions. Up to 2000 delegates are expected,” said Hon. Kadaga.

The 126th IPU Assembly and Related Meetings will be held in Kampala, Uganda, between March 31 – 5 April, 2012. The opening ceremony will be held at the Commonwealth Speke Resort, Munyonyo, while other meetings will be at Serena Hotel, Kampala and the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala.

Speaker Kadaga briefed diplomats about the pre-conference activities, the conference, requirements for delegates and the responsibilities by the host Parliament to delegates, as agreed upon in the Protocol signed between Parliament of Uganda and the IPU Secretariat.

She said, “In conformity with the Protocol, all delegates to the IPU Assembly will receive gratis visas from all our missions abroad for those that are able to access these missions. Delegates from countries that may not easily access a Ugandan mission will be issued gratis visas upon their arrival at Entebbe International airport.”

She said that all delegates are responsible for their own accommodation and maintenance expenses in Kampala, although Parliament is advising and assisting delegates in this area.

The VIP Lounge in Entebbe will be reserved for receiving Speakers, Deputy Speakers and Ministers, while other delegates will be fast-tracked through the ordinary channels.

The Speaker said all delegates with the exception of the Speakers, Deputy Speakers are expected to comply with biometrics at the immigration counters – measures meant for safety of all delegates.

“We expect security to be further heightened in the entire country, and specifically within and around all the venues to be used by all the delegates. We further ask that you transmit this information home such that delegates may refrain from carrying any items that may raise security concerns,” Hon. Kadaga said.

Diplomats promised to assist Parliament of Uganda in order to host a successful conference.