The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has asked the media to highlight the potential benefits for Uganda in hosting the forthcoming Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC).
While meeting over 50 media editors and journalists at Hotel Africana on 12 July 2019, Kadaga said that the responsibility of portraying a good image of the country lies with the media.
She urged editors to strive towards conveying the right information, with the aim of marketing the country.
“Uganda has a major opportunity this year to market itself. We expect revenue from participants at the conference because all of them will pay for their accommodation. They will [go sight seeing] dance to our music and eat our food. All this will boost our economy,” said Kadaga.
She revealed that she has written to the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health to give assurance that Uganda is Ebola-free.
“We have also engaged High Commissioners of all the Commonwealth countries to inform their citizens that it is safe to come to Uganda and that it is a good opportunity to attend the conference,” Kadaga said.
The Speaker also advised the media to avoid disseminating information, which is alarming, saying that such reports affect major meetings.
The Chairperson of the media and publicity sub-committee of the CPC, Hon. Paul Amoru (NRM, Dokolo North) called on the media to seize the opportunity of the Conference to tell Uganda’s story to the world.
“Many times, we have left our story to be told by international media. This is our time to tell our own story,” said Amoru.
Uganda is hosting the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference for the second time, since 1967.
Over 1,000 participants are expected to attend and they will include Members of Parliament, Clerks of Parliament, Staff of Parliament, Speakers of Parliament and their accompanying persons.
The Conference, which is slated for 22 to 29 September 2019 under the theme, Adaption, engagement, and evolution of Parliaments in a rapidly changing Commonwealth, will be held at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort.