By Guest Writer
The Speaker, Rt. Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth has revealed that Parliament is set to reestablish its Parliamentary Institute for Studies.
The Speaker made the revelation this morning while meeting the new German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Sigrid Sommer, who paid a courtesy call in his chambers at Parliament buildings.
“We are restarting our Parliamentary Institute for Studies to train, expose, and broaden the minds of our members and staff,” Speaker Oboth said.
Oboth said the institute will henceforth become a central engine for training, research, and capacity building, with cooperation and technical support from the German Parliament under a planned Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
“Through cooperation with the German Parliament, we will learn and unlearn, adopt best practices, and strengthen parliamentary diplomacy,” Speaker Oboth revealed.
During the courtesy call by the German ambassador, the Speaker also announced that the revived Institute will serve as a hub for professional development of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff, anchored in structured collaboration with Germany.
Ambassador Sommer welcomed the initiative, stressing that such exchanges are mutually beneficial, deepening Germany’s understanding of Uganda, Eastern Africa, and the African continent.
To anchor the Institute’s work and broader cooperation, the Speaker proposed a formal MoU between the Parliament of Uganda and the German Parliament.
He said such an MoU would facilitate delegations of MPs and, where appropriate, investors between the two countries.
He further revealed that the diplomatic cooperation would also support joint engagement on trade, humanitarian assistance, human rights, and governance.
“We really want to enable Parliament to complement traditional diplomacy, working alongside the head of state and government to ease bottlenecks for investors and development partners, “the Speaker said.
“Parliamentary diplomacy will complement mainstream diplomacy, not compete with it,” the Speaker emphasized, adding that “Through Parliament-to-Parliament cooperation, we can enhance trade, deepen bilateral relations, and help unlock opportunities for our people.”
The Ambassador thanked the Speaker for the initiative and revealed that German experts and facilitators will support training programs at the Institute in targeted thematic areas.
According to the talks, Ugandan MPs and staff will participate in exchange and study visits to Germany to learn from parliamentary processes and institutions.
The Institute will promote comparative learning, helping Parliament modernize its work and improve legislative performance.
The Ambassador noted that an active parliamentary group on Eastern Africa in the German Bundestag had planned visits on humanitarian assistance and human rights and are expected to be rescheduled after earlier postponement due to Ebola.
She added that there were ongoing scholarship and internship programs for African countries, including a Ugandan participant set to intern at a German institution.
Both sides agreed that reestablishing the Parliamentary Institute for Studies, backed by a structured MoU, will mark a new phase in Uganda–Germany parliamentary cooperation, strengthening institutions, enhancing skills, and advancing shared strategic interests.
About the Parliamentary Institute for Studies
The Parliamentary Institute for Studies is being revived as Uganda’s dedicated center for training, research, and policy support for Members of Parliament and staff. Through international partnerships, including the proposed cooperation with the German Parliament, the Institute will promote best practices, comparative learning, and professional excellence to reinforce Uganda’s legislative institution.
The Institute traces its roots to 2012, when the Parliamentary Commission moved to provide specialized, in-house training in the workings of Parliament.
Speaker Oboth thanked the Ambassador for taking the initiative and further confirmed Parliament was open to more discussions. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
