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

Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth, has called for a more structured and results-oriented approach to parliamentary diplomacy. Speaking as Parliament resumed its plenary session after a recess, Oboth stressed that international parliamentary engagements should extend beyond mere visits and formal meetings to yield concrete outcomes for Uganda.

To this end, Parliament is actively working to strengthen friendship groups with several countries. Initial focus is being placed on fostering closer ties with Australia, India, and the United Kingdom, with potential future collaborations being explored with Japan and Germany. Speaker Oboth clarified that these parliamentary efforts are intended to complement, not compete with, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the broader government’s diplomatic initiatives.

Oboth expects Members of Parliament to actively participate in these parliamentary friendship groups. The goal is to utilize these relationships to secure valuable opportunities for Ugandans, such as scholarships, legislative exchange programs, and avenues for foreign investment. A registration system is being prepared to ensure that each MP is affiliated with at least one such group.

Furthermore, Parliament is developing a formal framework, including Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), to guide these international relationships. This framework will ensure that collaborations are well-defined and produce measurable benefits for the nation. The recent exchange visit of the Australia-Uganda parliamentary friendship group was cited as an example of the potential positive impact of such diplomacy.

During his recess, Speaker Oboth engaged in discussions with his UK counterpart, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to strengthen bilateral parliamentary relations. He also attended the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, where he held productive discussions on trade, education, agricultural research, climate change, and capacity building with the Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly.

Oboth urged MPs involved in international forums and friendship groups to approach these engagements with a mindset of learning, sharing, and relationship-building, with the ultimate aim of strengthening Parliament and benefiting Uganda. Responding to a suggestion from MP Patrick Nsamba, the Speaker agreed on the importance of establishing a database to track commitments made during international engagements, ensuring consistency and proper follow-through.

This coordinated approach will help align parliamentary engagements with the government’s overall foreign policy objectives.