Kampala
26/10/07

COMMONWEALTH LEADERS TO DISCUSS GOOD GOVERNANC, DEMOCRACY, ECONOMICS AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
The Commonwealth heads of government are expected to discuss obstacles to free global trade and good governance when they assemble in the Ugandan capital, Kampala for a summit next month.
 
The tentative agenda for the summit shows the leaders will focus their attention on promotion of principles of good governance including, democracy, human rights, freedom of the press and separation of powers among the organs of government.
 
Other key issues expected to be on the agenda table include climate change, international rade, intra-trade in the Commonwealth, concerns of small states and Islands, follow ups on 2005 Malta resolution and the threat of terrorism and development of weapons of mass destruction.
 
The Kampala summit is also expected to elect a new Secretary General, to discuss the criteria of admission of new members and networking the Commonwealth for development through information technology.
 
James Mugumo the Permanent Secretary in the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the discussion would centre on the theme CHOGM 2007, ‘’Transforming’’.
 
Ambassador Mugume said for the Commonwealth societies to achieve political economic and development, ‘’we are asking what lessons from those who recently industrialized? Ambassador Mugume was briefing ythe newsmen on the preparation for CHOGM. He was in the company of CHOGM summit organizing committee chairman Job Elobu and Florence Kyasiimire.
 
He said the parallel meetings the Youth Forum Business, Business Council.
People’s Forum and Foreign Affairs Ministers will also discuss how society can be transformed.
 
‘’We are looking at CHOGM as the first step of transforming our society. In 1971 Singapore hosted the summit, their premier Lee Khan Yew told his people ‘’you cannot do this, we have big guest coming. Now Singapore is one of the cleanest cities in the world, Mugume explained.
 
Long after CHOGM has ended, people all over the world will remember CHOGM not because of the hotels and roads built but the declarations made by leaders on these issues.
 
‘’They will be referred to as Kampala declaration just like we have the Singapore principles and Harare declarations,’’ Mugame said adding that the Commonwealth Ministers Action Group would deal with ‘’countries under distress’’ like Fiji, where there was a military coup and Pakistan, whose President is being monitored on how he will handle the transition.
 
Meanwhile the Speke Resort Munyonyo hotel in Kampala has completed constructing the 55 Presidential suites where heads of State coming for the Commonwealth Summit (CHOGM) will be accommodated.
 
The proprietor of Speke Resort Munyonyo, Mr. Sudhir Ruperalia told the Parliamentary select committee on CHOGM that four more presidential suites would be completed by November 10 to make a total of 59 suites.
 
The Ugandan legislators led by Onyango Kakoba were touring the hotel to ascertain its readiness for the CHOGM meeting schedule for next month.
 
Ruperalia told the MPs that the 59 suites have cost USD 32 million (about Ushs 50 billion). He added that the facility had 585 rooms, that would be ready for CHOGM by November 10. The first structure has 355 rooms, rated under 4 star and the new one has 230 rooms under 5 star’’ he said.
 
Meanwhile hotels in neighbouring cities of Kigali (Rwanda), Nairobi (Kenya) and Dar ES Salaam (Tanzania) could as well get their rooms ready as they stand to earn something big from next month CHOGM Summit in Kampala.
 
A survey of the hotels in and around Kampala City listed to host delegates to next month’s Commonwealth meeting (CHOGM) indicate that as much as the rooms could be sufficient, many of the hotels are lacking in standards.
 
Most of the so-called appropriate CHOGM accommodation facilities are either small obscure hotels located in shanty city suburbs or lacked some basic facilities that befits the accommodation of VIPs.
 
According to the official list of hotels obtained about half of the approved 114 CHOGM hotels are small obscure hotels, apartments and guest houses located in noisy, slummy and not-easily accessible areas!!
 
The areas include Bwaise, Ndeeba, Kitintale, Bakuli, Nakawa, Kureka, Kuyembe lane, Luwum street, Matungo – Biina, Hoima Road and Nakawa.
 
Some of the places have their access roads in sorry state.
 
A spokesman of the CHOGM 2007 taskforce Mr. Kagole Kivumbi said at least 5,677 rooms are now ready.
 
The nearby Kenyan City, Kisumu on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria might also be considered and some CHOGM guest relocated near Kisumu has two 4 – Star hotels the Imperial and the Sunset.
 
Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com