Speaker Oboth Urges MPs to Leverage Foreign Ties for Uganda's Benefit

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has emphasized the need for Ugandan legislators to transform international parliamentary engagements into concrete advantages for the nation. Speaking as Parliament resumed its sittings, Oboth stressed that diplomatic interactions abroad should extend beyond mere visits and formal meetings, aiming instead for measurable outcomes.

To facilitate this, Parliament is actively working to strengthen existing friendship groups with countries like Australia, India, and the United Kingdom, with Japan and Germany also under consideration. These initiatives are intended to complement, not compete with, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government’s broader diplomatic efforts.

Oboth urged MPs to actively participate in these parliamentary friendship groups, seeing them as avenues to secure valuable opportunities such as scholarships, legislative exchanges, and investment prospects for Uganda. A proposal requiring MPs to register and join at least one such group is forthcoming.

Furthermore, Parliament is developing a framework, including Memoranda of Understanding, to guide these international relationships and ensure they yield demonstrable benefits. The recent exchange visit of the Australia-Uganda parliamentary friendship group was cited as a prime example of the potential, with a report detailing potential areas of cooperation expected soon.

During the recess, Speaker Oboth engaged in discussions with the Speaker of the UK House of Commons to bolster bilateral relations and attended the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, where he held discussions with Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker on various cooperation fronts.

He urged MPs involved in international bodies and friendship groups to “go to learn, go to share, go to build relationships,” bringing back knowledge and connections that will strengthen Parliament and ultimately benefit Uganda. The suggestion to create a database of commitments made during international forums was also welcomed by MPs, aiming to ensure consistent representation of Uganda’s interests.