The Bureau and Women’s Forum of the European Union’s Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) with the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly) have passed a resolution to award Cecilia Ogwal, the Women Leadership Award in recognition of her role as a champion of women’s rights.

The motion was moved by Hon. Dr. Pierrette Herzberger Fofana, a Member of the European Parliament from Germany, and seconded by Hon. Sibeso Sefulo from Zambia.

Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, said the award will go a long way in keeping alive the ideas that the late MP Cecilia embodied and inspire more girls to fight for their space on a global stage.

“It is the first award of its kind by the Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific-European Union Parliamentary Assembly. I’m glad the Uganda delegation at the Assembly managed to lobby our colleagues to ensure Ogwal’s immense contribution is recognized at this high-level assembly,” Tayebwa said.

He said further details on the award will be shared after the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States-European Union (OACPS-EU) Secretariat has finalized the selection criteria.

The decision to introduce a leadership award to honour the late MP Ogwal was passed during the 1st Session of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, held in Luanda, Angola, from February 19th to 21st, 2024.

The late MP Ogwal, who previously served in the ACP EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, succumbed to cancer  in India.