{UAH} Proud Ogwal bows out of Pan African Parliament

Proud Ogwal bows out of Pan African Parliament

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SUNDAY, 20 APRIL 2014 21:24

WRITTEN BY MOHAMMED KATAMBA

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When she stood up to speak at the Pan-African Parliament last month – about issues of the traditional family, women rights and public accountability – everyone listened attentively.

Her bellowing voice reverberated in the auditorium, apparently unaware she was out of time. This prompted the Speaker/President, Bethel Amadi, to grant her an extra minute to complete her presentation. An accountant by profession, Cecilia Atim Ogwal admits she has never practised her profession. But in politics, she has found a calling that has earned her immense respect at home and abroad.

Until March 2014, Ogwal was the leader of Uganda's delegation to PAP. But she has to leave the continental assembly, after the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) made her opposition chief whip in the Ugandan legislature. She seems to have enjoyed working at PAP and admits she will miss it. During her two years as one of Uganda's representatives, she has built a base so powerful that she influenced outcomes of several elections to various positions at PAP.

When the Ugandan group joined PAP and she was appointed leader of delegation, she convinced her colleagues to back the Nigerian legislator, Bethel Amadi, to take up the coveted position of presidency. She took many by surprise when she announced that she was leaving PAP and that March 2014 would be her last appearance in Midrand, South Africa, seat of the continental legislature.

But when it sank in that she was really leaving Midrand, her friend, Awad Hag Ali Ahmed (Sudan), the chairperson of the Eastern Caucus – comprising Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Mauritius and Uganda – drafted a motion, which was accepted and lined up for consideration. This was to recognise Ogwal's contribution to PAP and congratulate her upon her new role.

Juliana Azuma-Mensah (Ghana) said she had always admired Ogwal as a lady who would stand up for women.

"Having seen and met Hon Cecilia, I think she is a very strong woman who can take on this position of chief whip, whether in the opposition or in government," she said. "The government and the opposition must work together to make sure the business in the chamber flows very well. Your work is all about mobilising and looking at [Ogwal]. I believe she is a very good mobiliser."

Christine Mutinta (Zambia) said she had learnt a lot from Ogwal during the period they worked together.

"I have learnt a lot from her in terms of humility, determination and in the way she articulates herself in debates in the House. She is motherly and offered free advice to those that needed it," she said. "Although I had known her for a short time, she certainly quickly became my role model because of her many positive qualities."

Her colleagues, whom she had led for two and half years, also spoke positively about her. Jacqueline Amongin (Uganda) said she got mentorship from Ogwal, and that her appointment meant that both the government and opposition sides would be whipped by ladies.

"She has been a mentor to most of us. As young people when we were growing up, we saw very proactive ladies like Cecilia Ogwal and there is definitely no reason why you should doubt my being here. It is because of the mentorship of such great people," said Amongin.

The new leader of Uganda's delegation, Onyango Kakoba, appreciated PAP for accepting the motion to be moved – the first such motion in PAP's ten years of existence. He said, despite being a member of the opposition, Ogwal always put her country first while on international assignments.

"She was an inspiration [during the Constituent Assembly]. It was her contributions that inspired me as a young man then to offer myself to stand [for Parliament in 1996]," he said.

"Ogwal has made herself worthy of recognition and we wish her luck in her new endeavours," he added.

Suad Al-Fatih Al Badawi (Sudan), who called Ogwal 'my sister,' appreciated her for putting up a mosque in her constituency despite being a Christian.

"She stood very strongly with and for the morals of Africa. Whatever she said was wisdom and I wish her strength, charisma and success in her new job," said Al Badawi. "Look at this as a pride for Africa, both men and women to be proud that Cecilia is going to be one of our people – in whatever we say about good governance and democracy."

Ogwal has been the vice-chairperson of the committee on Administration and Financial Evaluation, charged with enforcing accountability at PAP. She has also been a member of the Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolutions committees.

During her tenure, she moved PAP to debate and recognise Uganda upon attaining 50 years of independence, in a motion moved by former PAP president, Dr Ndele. Ndele died in a car crash a few months later. In appreciation, Ogwal moved a motion to pay tribute to Dr Ndele.

She spoke out against dictatorship, appealing to African countries to get rid of dictators and corrupt leaders as the continent embarked on the next fifty years.

"As we develop the agenda for 2063, Africa must protect itself and its resources. We must weed out dictators and corrupt leaders, who are enriching themselves," Ogwal said.

In yet another debate, she rejected calls by a South African MP urging the Parliament of Uganda not to legislate against homosexuality.

"We will not promote a culture that dehumanises African culture. We must pass a resolution condemning homosexuality," she said.

Ogwal said PAP appreciated Uganda for its role in stabilising the region, through its contribution to the African Union Mission in Somalia. She appealed to her colleagues to maintain the high standard of performance and to remain united.

"The [Ugandan delegation] should remain united and cohesive regardless of ideological diversities. I urge them to continue to promote the image of Uganda and to put Uganda above political party politics and personal sentiments," Ogwal said.

Ogwal sounds upbeat about her new appointment, and looks forward to working with colleagues in opposition and on the government side. She says the position of 'Whip' is challenging, where she has to be "practical, reasonable and human" to encourage members to remain accountable.

"I am happy that this assignment will bring me closer to parties in the opposition, which I worked with during the period when we were mobilising the country to adopt multiparty democracy," she said. "My duty will be to agree with the members on both sides; to agree on issues of national importance that cut across the ideological divide. We must put national interest before individual, party or constituency interests."

The author is a senior information officer, Parliament of Uganda

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower