The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has called for more collaboration between Members of Parliament from Netherlands and Uganda so as to strengthen relations between the two countries.
“We can consider arranging for a memorandum of understanding and identify areas where we can collaborate as Parliaments,” Kadaga said.
She made the call while meeting Members of Parliament from Netherlands on the Committee on Foreign Trade and Cooperation, who paid a courtesy call on her Thursday, 12 July 2018.
The visiting MPs discussed with the Speaker issues relating to legislative support to foreign investors, economic relations with Dutch companies in Uganda, and Uganda’s position in the African Union.
Kadaga noted that Uganda was one of the most prominent Pan African countries that have supported many liberation struggles of African nations including South Africa and Liberia among others.
“One of our proudest achievements as a small country is the pacification of Somalia. We have also done some work in the Central African Republic and our President has worked on the conflict between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar,” Kadaga said.
She also said that amendments to improve the country’s investment climate were in the offing, including incentives for investors such as free trade zones and industrial parks under the investment code.
Kadaga noted that Uganda was the second largest refugee hosting country in the world with an open door policy and called for support to handle the situation.
“We need support for infrastructure rehabilitation in host communities because trucks that take relief food to villages damage the roads because such roads are meant for small cars,” Kadaga added.
Asked about her take on the immigration policy of Europe, the Speaker said that it was in the interest of European legislators and leaders to improve orderly access to Europe, and that “…it is important for you to invest in Africa so that we can stay here.”
Hon. Raymond de Roon (Party for Freedom) said they would visit refugee camps including the Kiryandongo refugee settlement project to assess the situation and take a report back to Parliament in the Netherlands.
The meeting was also attended by the Dutch Ambassador to Uganda; the Leader of the Opposition Winfred Kiiza, Parliamentary Commissioners and the Clerk to Parliament.
Source: Parliament of Uganda
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