President Yoweri Museveni departed for London on Tuesday to lead a Ugandan delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2018), the Presidency said.
CHOGM 2018 is themed “Towards a Common Future” and take places on Thursday and Friday.
The Presidency said Museveni was seen off at Entebbe International Airport this morning by the Vice President, Mr. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi.
Others at the airport to see him included Presidency Minister, Esther Ambayo, the Head of Public Service, John Mitala, the Chief of the Defence Forces, Gen. David Muhoozi, the Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola and the Commissioner General of Prisons, Johnson Byabashaija.
The Commonwealth’s 53 members include 19 African countries; seven Asian members; 13 members from the Caribbean and the Americas; three from Europe; and 11 members from the Pacific. They meet every two years to discuss issues affecting the Commonwealth members and the international community in general.
Government heads are expected to adopt an outcome document after the meeting, covering a wide range of issues, that will serve as a programme of action for the next two years.
According to senior officials, President Museveni’s decision to attend the summit was also influenced by a very personal letter addressed to him by Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of the Commonwealth.
I have left for London, the United Kingdom, to attend the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). pic.twitter.com/tlrixjOfUi
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) April 18, 2018
As Britain takes over the two-year Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth at the heads of government deliberations, it will mark the last such summit to be hosted by the Queen.
With the 91-year-old monarch having ruled out long-haul travel, she is unlikely to travel to any future CHOGMs to be hosted by other member-states.
This has also triggered widespread speculation over whether her son and heir, Prince Charles, would be anointed as the next Head of the organisation. As the position is not hereditary, a decision on succession will be taken collectively by the 53 heads of government of the Commonwealth.
This subject is expected to be the central feature of deliberations when the leaders get together for the CHOGM leaders’ retreat on April 20 at the grand Waterloo Chamber of Windsor Castle.
“At the retreat – unique to the Commonwealth – heads meet privately to discuss collaboration on global and Commonwealth priorities. They will also consider reform and renewal of the Commonwealth,” a Commonwealth statement said.
There is reportedly no general consensus over the Prince of Wales as the next Head of the Commonwealth, with Uganda yet to reveal its stand on a successor to the Queen.
The 69-year-old royal is reportedly keen to step into his mother’s shoes but the decision will be up to the presidents and prime ministers representing the 53 member-countries, which will then be announced by Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.
The leaders may not be able to arrive at a decision on the matter at the end of the retreat, in which case it will roll over to the next CHOGM.
Museveni is expected to return to Uganda on Friday.
