Kampala,26/11/07
 
            NEWS ANALYSIS
 
CHOGM LEADERS VOWS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION AND ILLEGAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting ended last Sunday in the Ugandan capital, Kampala with a commitment by the leaders to combat and stamp out corruption.
 
The leaders also vowed to recover all assets of illicit origins. They further vowed to fight human trafficking by way of putting in place laws to prosecute human traffickers and to end impunity for perpetrators of crimes against humanity by supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC)
 
The following are some of the recommendations made by t he 48 representatives of commonwealth countries, including 36 heads of government after the three-day summit at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, located right in the heart of Kampala City.
 
Recognizing that extortion, bribery and corruption undermine good governance, respect for human rights and economic development .The heads of government reaffirmed their commitment to combat systematic corruption at both national and international level, said the communiqué read to newsmen at the end of the meeting.
 
The commonwealth leaders encouraged member states to implement recommendations made two years ago to recover assets hidden abroad, which had been illegally acquired.
 
On the rising problem of human trafficking from poor countries, the leaders expressed their “abhorrence” over the practice.
 
They urged members to put in place a framework to prevent human trafficking, protect victims and prosecute the culprits “such a framework would include all necessary criminal measures and investigative and international cooperation tools”,
 
CHOGM also condemned terrorist’s acts and emphasized that in all necessary criminal measures taken to counter terrorism should comply with international laws on human rights.
 
On the ICC, the CHOGM leaders stressed the importance of ending impunity for the perpetration of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and took positive note in that context of the work of the international criminal courts.
 
The Kampala summit urged member states, which had not yet ratified the Rome Statute for the creation of ICC to do so “at the earliest opportunity”
 
On investment, the leaders noted the importance of measures to reduce investor costs. They also called for increased focus on developing local financial markets, including access to loans for the poor and providing opportunities for the local investors.
 
On the commonwealth membership, the leaders agreed that applicant must accept commonwealth norms, such as the use of English as the medium of Inter-Commonwealth relations and acknowledged Queen Elizabeth II as the head of the Commonwealth.
 
Most heads of government present described the summit as “exceptional and most successful” Leaders who spoke for the different regional blocks within the commonwealth poured praise on the Uganda leaders President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for being an excellent host and Ugandans for their hospitality.
 
Ghana’s President John Kafour who spoke on behalf of Africa said Uganda made the continent proud.”This is one of the most successful CHOGM ever held. I believe the memories of the successful event will remain in the minds of Ugandans for very many years,” Kotuur   said.
 
Patrick Manning the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the next host of CHOGM said Ugandans had lifted the standards, which his country would try to match.
 
“I thank Ugandans for having organized this event in a special way. You have set a very high standards in the preparations for the CHOGM.I will try to maintain this standard in organizing the next event.”
 
The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephens Harper, was equally impressed by the level of event in a special way of organization Uganda had exhibited and thanked Museveni for his “good leadership”
 
He said the commonwealth stood for the pursuit of principles of democracy, good governance and the rule of law, something it demonstrated with the suspension of Pakistan
 
Among those who spoke at the event of the meeting included the deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Wong Kan Seng who was in full praise of Museveni.
 
  “The good leadership cannot e viewed as for CHOGM but the entire East Africa, said a relaxed Museveni. He said that is hwy he had named vector plan on climate change after Lake Victoria, which is shared by the five East African countries.
 
Museveni also earned lavish praise from the outgoing Common Wealth General Don McKinnon who caused a prolonged laughter by saying he was leaving Uganda as a terrorist after the commonwealth leaders had appointed India’s diplomat Mr.Kamlesh Shorina to replace him.
 
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com