Uganda's Parliament Seeks UK Collaboration for Reform

The Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has initiated efforts to strengthen ties with the UK Parliament, seeking to leverage their long-standing experience for legislative reform in Uganda. During a meeting in London with the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Oboth outlined his vision for revitalizing the Parliament of Uganda’s systems, structures, and operational practices.

Oboth emphasized that the Parliament of Uganda’s administrative framework was historically modeled on the House of Commons, making the UK institution a natural source for lessons and inspiration. His agenda centers on restoring the Ugandan Parliament to its core purpose and effective functioning. “This is about consolidating our efforts to reset, revive and rejuvenate the management and affairs of the Parliament of Uganda,” Oboth stated.

The engagement also served as a platform for parliamentary diplomacy, aiming to deepen the decades-old relationship between the two legislative bodies. Oboth expressed a desire for mutual benefit through staff and member exchanges, attachments, and benchmarking programs. He further advocated for an inter-parliamentary network to support bilateral interests in education, trade, and mining.

Speaker Hoyle commended Oboth’s leadership and vision, affirming the UK Parliament’s willingness to support inter-parliamentary diplomacy. He framed the collaboration within the broader context of the Commonwealth, suggesting it could help unite African nations within the organization. This meeting is anticipated to pave the way for a formal cooperation framework, with both sides expressing openness to further exchanges in governance, trade, and education.

Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4622/speaker-oboth-seeks-closer-ties-uk-parliament-push-reform-ugandas-legislature