The Speaker of Uganda's Parliament, Rt. Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth, has announced plans to reestablish the Institute for Parliamentary Studies (IPS) with technical support from the German Parliament. This was revealed during a meeting with the new German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Sigrid Sommer, who paid a courtesy call to the Speaker's chambers at Parliament buildings. The Institute aims to train, expose, and broaden the minds of Parliament members and staff.
The revived Institute will serve as a central engine for training, research, and capacity building, with cooperation from the German Parliament under a planned Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This partnership will enable Uganda to learn and adopt best practices, strengthening parliamentary diplomacy. Speaker Oboth emphasized that the Institute will be a hub for professional development of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff, in collaboration with Germany.
Ambassador Sommer welcomed the initiative, highlighting the mutual benefits of such exchanges, which deepen Germany's understanding of Uganda, Eastern Africa, and the African continent. The Speaker proposed a formal MoU between the Parliament of Uganda and the German Parliament to facilitate delegations of MPs and investors between the two countries. This cooperation will also support joint engagement on trade, humanitarian assistance, human rights, and governance.
The Speaker emphasized that parliamentary diplomacy will complement mainstream diplomacy, not compete with it. He stated that through Parliament-to-Parliament cooperation, Uganda can enhance trade, deepen bilateral relations, and unlock opportunities for its people. The Ambassador thanked the Speaker for the initiative and revealed that German experts will support training programs at the Institute in targeted thematic areas.
As part of the cooperation, 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.
The reestablishment of the Institute for Parliamentary Studies, backed by a structured MoU, marks a new phase in Uganda–Germany parliamentary cooperation. This cooperation aims to strengthen institutions, enhance skills, and advance shared strategic interests. The Institute traces its roots to 2012 but was suspended in 2021. Speaker Oboth thanked the Ambassador for taking the initiative and confirmed Parliament's openness to further discussions.
The Institute for Parliamentary 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. Both sides agreed that this cooperation will have a positive impact on Uganda's parliamentary processes.
Key points
- The Institute for Parliamentary Studies aims to train and expose members and staff of Uganda's Parliament.
- The cooperation with the German Parliament will be formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
- The partnership will promote comparative learning, helping Parliament modernize its work and improve legislative performance.
