“The Bible has taught me that when homosexuality was practised, those cities were burnt down. This is not our practice,” Ugandan Parliamentary Commissioner Cecilia Atim Ogwal has said.
Speaking at the opening of the 4th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) Youth Parliament, Hon. Ogwal said African youth must reject foreign cultures and traditions including homosexuality as they prepare to take up leadership positions on the continent.
She warned that accepting the foreign cultures is ‘dehumanizing’ and would be selling the future of Africa.
“If you have started this [homosexuality], it’s not too late to stop it and preach to others to stop it [homosexuality],”
said Ogwal adding that
“If we do not do this, then we will already have sold our future.”
The 4th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) Youth Parliament has attracted participants from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia and hosts Uganda.
The Youth Parliament is held under the theme: Securing A Better Future for Africa: Role Of The Youth. The opening ceremony was held at Hotel Africana in Kampala, while other sittings were held in the Parliament of Uganda Chamber.
Ogwal, who is also the woman MP representing Dokolo district in Northern Uganda, stood in for the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga at the opening of the five-day event.
Before being elected as Parliamentary Commissioner, Ogwal was the Opposition Chief Whip and one of Uganda’s five representatives to the Pan African Parliament in South Africa and Africa, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Ogwal said that as a member of the two international parliamentary bodies, she rejected arguments by South Africa and European countries that homosexuality was an expression of the rights of an individual. However, she said, the Europeans instead rejected polygamy in their countries.
“African countries are invaded by foreign cultures and traditions. They are forcing this on us and it is up to us to accept or reject this,” she said adding “When you come to leadership positions, you must know what is good and what is bad.”
Ogwal said that the theme of the Conference was in line with the African Union Agenda 2063 which seeks to redirect the continent’s energy towards the pursuit for integration, prosperity, peace and stability, cultural identity and people-driven development.
She encouraged the youth to be at the forefront of formulating and implementing policy since they are the majority in their countries.
“Ensure that the implementation of policy will help you realize your dreams and vision. Force governments to pursue your agenda; and in order to pursue this agenda, you must have the legal framework that protects the youth,”
she said.
Ogwal also asked delegates to ensure that practices in society that affect youth and women are eliminated.
The National Female Youth Member of Parliament Anna Adeke Ebaju urged the youth delegates to take up management positions available at all levels to prepare them for later leadership at national and regional levels.
Adeke said that her positions as Guild President at Makerere University and later Speaker of the Students Council had prepared and given her experience to serve as Member of Parliament at the national level.
She said that despite their numbers, few or no governments had charged the youth with the power to make decisions on, especially issues that affect them.
“I urge you to fully participate in leadership at all levels, in Church, sports or the community. Do not be afraid to take up these leadership positions because Africa needs your experience,”
said Adeke.
In their first session, the Commonwealth Youth delegates debated issues regarding Youth Unemployment, Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and harnessing Youth in Leadership. Their other debates throughout the week focused on Teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, Youth and Social Media among others.
Parliament Press
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