Speaker Oboth Seeks Stronger Uganda-Pakistan Ties at Commonwealth Conference

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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth has called for stronger cooperation between Uganda and Pakistan, particularly in trade, education, research, climate change and parliamentary capacity building.

Oboth made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with the Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, on the sidelines of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Cape Town.

The conference, hosted by the Parliament of South Africa and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) South Africa Branch, is being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) under the theme, “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership.”

More than 800 parliamentarians, speakers and governance experts from across the Commonwealth are attending the conference.

According to a statement issued by the Speaker’s Principal Press Secretary, Dr. Arinaitwe Rugyendo, Oboth described Pakistan as a key strategic ally of Uganda and said the two countries should seek to strengthen their existing relationship.

Oboth pointed to the historical ties between Uganda and Pakistan and acknowledged the contribution of Uganda’s Pakistani community to the country’s economy.

He said bilateral relations should extend beyond ceremonial engagements to practical cooperation in areas including trade and economic diplomacy, education, research, climate action and capacity building.

Sadiq welcomed the proposal and said Pakistan had made Africa a formal foreign policy priority.

He proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalise cooperation between the two parliaments and invited Oboth to visit Pakistan.

The Pakistani Speaker also shared his country’s experience with paperless and climate-conscious parliamentary initiatives, which he suggested could provide areas for cooperation between the two legislatures.

The two Speakers agreed that their respective foreign affairs and parliamentary structures should follow up on the proposals discussed during the meeting.

Oboth is leading a Ugandan parliamentary delegation to the CPC comprising Emely Kugonza, Naome Kabasharira, Otim Benard, Fortunate Rose Nantongo, Silas Aogon and Adrine Katusiime.

Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Paul Omiat Amoru, has also joined the delegation in Cape Town.

The discussions form part of Uganda’s participation in the wider Commonwealth parliamentary meeting, which is examining the role of parliaments and international law amid changes in the global political order.