Eswatini
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has criticised the European Union over what he described as interference in Uganda’s internal affairs following concerns raised by the European Parliament regarding violence reported during Uganda’s January 2026 general elections.
Tayebwa expressed his displeasure while addressing delegates at the Eastern Africa Regional Parliamentary Group of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States-European Union (OACPS-EU) meetings currently taking place in Eswatini ahead of the OACPS–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly scheduled for later this week.
According to Tayebwa, the European Parliament’s decision to summon Uganda’s Ambassador to respond to complaints related to the election violence was unacceptable and undermined Uganda’s sovereignty.
“One of the key issues I raised is the need to demand respect for African countries from our EU counterparts. For instance, Uganda recently held elections that were free, fair, and successful. However, the European Parliament summoned Uganda’s Ambassador over the election; this was not right, and we rejected it,” Tayebwa said.
He added that a similar incident had also occurred involving Tanzania.
“In our engagements with EU colleagues, we will be seeking firm guarantees that such incidents will not happen again,” he noted.
The Deputy Speaker further stated that this was not the first time the European Union had allegedly interfered in Uganda’s affairs. He cited a previous resolution by the European Parliament seeking to halt the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
“We opposed it strongly, and the resolution was later rescinded during an OACPS meeting in Maputo. This demonstrates the value of standing firm for Africa’s sovereignty,” Tayebwa said.
He also urged African legislators to unite around strategic priorities in order to strengthen Africa’s collective bargaining power in global negotiations.
“I also told my colleagues that we must unite around clear and strategic priorities to strengthen our collective voice in global negotiations. As legislators, we must assert our oversight role to ensure agreements deliver tangible benefits to our citizens,” he said.
Tayebwa further called for African countries to fully utilise the African Continental Free Trade Area while addressing non-tariff barriers that continue to limit access to key international markets.
He also advocated for improved access to European Union markets and called for greater transparency and accountability in climate financing commitments.
During the discussions, Tayebwa urged fellow legislators to carefully scrutinise all agreements and documents before endorsement.
“We must read all documents thoroughly and understand every detail, even down to a comma, so that we can negotiate from a position of strength,” he said.
The OACPS-EU meetings bring together legislators from Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the European Union to discuss matters relating to trade, governance, climate financing, and international cooperation.
Torch Media Africa
