Tanzanian appointed regional parliamentary forum Secretary General
What you need to know:
- His appointment was unanimously endorsed by the ICGLR member states' Speakers of National Parliaments.
Luanda. A Tanzanian national, Dr Deo Mwapinga, has been appointed the Forum of Parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) secretary general.
His appointment was unanimously endorsed by the ICGLR member states' Speakers of National Parliaments.
The confirmation took place on Friday, April 25, 2025, during the Forum of Parliaments (FP-ICGLR) General Assembly held in Luanda, Angola, where parliamentary delegates from across the Great Lakes Region gathered to deliberate on matters of peace, security, and democratic governance—culminating in the ratification of the Speakers’ decision to elect a new Secretary General.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Mwapinga expressed his gratitude to the member states for the honour, pledging to uphold the Forum values and enhance inter-parliamentary collaboration throughout the region.
“This is not only a personal honour but also a recognition of Tanzania’s unwavering commitment to peace, stability, and regional integration. I accept this responsibility with full awareness of the important task ahead—to champion peace and security, enhance parliamentary diplomacy, deepen regional cooperation, and advance democracy and good governance,” he stated.
The FP-ICGLR brings together parliaments from 12 member states, working collectively to implement regional protocols on democracy, good governance, and human rights.
As Secretary General, Dr Mwapinga will oversee the Forum’s programmes and activities from its headquarters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
His mandate includes strengthening dialogue among member parliaments and coordinating support for shared regional development goals.
Dr Mwapinga’s candidacy received overwhelming support from the Speakers, signalling strong confidence in Tanzania’s regional leadership credentials.
Initially, the position was contested by Burundi, Kenya, and Tanzania. However, consensus was reached among the Speakers that Tanzania was best suited to steer the Forum’s agenda over the next three years, with the possibility of a one-term renewal. Consequently, Kenya and Burundi withdrew their nominations in support of Tanzania.
The government of Tanzania has welcomed the appointment with pride, with National Assembly Deputy Speaker Mussa Azzan Zungu, and head of the national delegation to Angola, described the development as: “A moment of national pride, a symbol of our country’s growing role in regional diplomacy, and a testament to the visionary leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.”
Dr Mwapinga succeeds Ambassador Onyango Kakoba of Uganda, who served from March 2018 to October 2024.
A former Member of Parliament for Buikwe North in Uganda, Mr Kakoba, was also unanimously appointed during his term by the Conference of Speakers.
Dr Mwapinga’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for both Tanzania and the FP-ICGLR, signalling a renewed era of leadership and regional collaboration.
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Singida West Member of Parliament Elibariki Kingu, who led Tanzania’s bilateral negotiations with other member states in Angola, said: “This is not just a personal achievement for the elected candidate, but a strategic milestone for Tanzania. It positions our country at the heart of decision-making within one of Africa’s most geopolitically significant regions.”
Mr Kingu, a seasoned parliamentarian with extensive experience in inter-parliamentary diplomacy, was appointed by the Speaker of the Tanzanian Parliament, Dr Tulia Ackson, to support the national campaign that led to Dr Mwapinga’s successful election.
