Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has called for stronger international cooperation, dialogue and collective action to address rising conflicts, organised crime and geopolitical tensions threatening global stability and undermining development.
Tayebwa said countries must strengthen multilateral partnerships and work together to tackle emerging security threats that increasingly transcend national borders.
He made the call on Wednesday while chairing a joint parliamentary assembly of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium.
Tayebwa, who serves as President of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly and Co-President of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, said security and development are closely interconnected, warning that conflicts disrupt public services, destroy livelihoods and divert resources from national development priorities.
The meeting was held under the theme, “Global Security and Multilateralism in a Highly Interconnected, Multipolar and Fragmented World.”
He noted that the growing threat of organised crime and instability across national borders makes international cooperation more critical, urging member states to strengthen partnerships that promote peace, security and respect for international law.
“Our partnership should help strengthen respect for sovereignty, international law and the protection of civilians. It should also support international institutions in which developing countries and smaller states have a meaningful voice,” Tayebwa said.
He challenged parliamentarians from Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Europe to deepen dialogue, support mediation initiatives and hold their respective governments accountable for commitments aimed at preventing crises and sustaining peace.
Tayebwa also highlighted Uganda’s experience in hosting refugees, noting that the country currently accommodates more than two million refugees, mainly from neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan, Burundi and South Sudan.
He said international cooperation remains essential in addressing the interconnected challenges of conflict, displacement and insecurity, while ensuring that countries work collectively towards lasting peace and sustainable development.
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