Ugandan Delegation Led by Deputy Speaker Tayebwa Participates in Vatican Assembly on Artificial Intelligence

VATICAN CITY — A delegation of Ugandan parliamentarians led by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa is participating in the 17th Annual Meeting of the International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN) in Rome, alongside Catholic legislators from around the world.

The four-day assembly, held from August 20–23, 2026, under the theme “Human Dignity and Artificial Intelligence: Challenges, Chances, and Control,” focuses on technology ethics, protection of the family, and human rights.

The Ugandan delegation was coordinated by Woman MP Hon. Lucy Akello, Head of the Uganda Parliament Catholic Chaplaincy. The delegation includes eight Members of Parliament alongside parliamentary technical staff. At the invitation of the Vatican, several lawmakers are accompanied by family members, including Mukono Municipality MP Hon. Betty Nambooze Bakireke, who attended with her husband.

During a private audience in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on August 21, Pope Leo XIV addressed the lawmakers on establishing ethical guardrails for emerging technologies.

“The world does not need an artificial intelligence that diminishes humanity; rather, it needs human intelligence enlightened by wisdom, political authority guided by conscience, and technological innovation directed by charity,” Pope Leo XIV stated.

The Pontiff cautioned against digital dependence, warning that rapid technological advancements risk creating new forms of ideological and economic colonialism that disproportionately affect developing nations. He urged parliamentarians to craft legislation that safeguards personal privacy, ensures algorithmic transparency, and protects family life from economic and digital exploitation.

In a separate reflection from the Vatican, Hon. Betty Nambooze Bakireke emphasized the role of faith and prayer in public leadership.

“As a Catholic, my faith drives me to pray for my nation, my life, my friends, and for those in suffering,” Hon. Nambooze noted. “Being in the presence of God at the Vatican is a moment to ask for His intervention, for wisdom among leaders, and for freedom and healing across our country.”

She added that communal prayer offers leaders an opportunity to seek spiritual guidance for governance.

“No leader can govern effectively without God’s guidance,” she said. “When we pray together, we ask God to soften hearts, turn leaders toward justice, and heal the issues that burden our people.”

The assembly ends with policy workshops and closed-door deliberations ahead of a joint resolution outlining how Catholic lawmakers can advance human-centered legislation on Artificial Intelligence.