A delegation of Ugandan lawmakers from the Parliamentary Committee on National Economy has arrived in Nigeria for a five-day training and induction workshop. The workshop, organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), aims to enhance the Ugandan lawmakers' capacity to scrutinise government borrowing, loan guarantees, and public expenditure. The delegation cited Nigeria's growing democratic experience as a valuable resource for learning.
The Team Lead of the Ugandan delegation, Hon. Avur Jane Pacuto, stated that African countries should learn from each other's successes and mistakes instead of relying solely on European experiences. Pacuto, a three-term member of the Ugandan Parliament, noted that Nigeria's democratic growth made it an ideal destination for parliamentary learning. The Ugandan lawmakers seek to understand how governments can manage borrowing responsibly and ensure borrowed resources benefit citizens.
The Ugandan lawmakers are particularly interested in learning how to manage borrowing sustainably amid changing global economic conditions, such as fluctuations in exchange rates. The Committee on National Economy is responsible for reviewing, assessing, and scrutinising government borrowing, grants, and guarantees, making the training relevant to its parliamentary mandate. Pacuto emphasised the need to prevent wastages and leakages in public funds.
The NILDS Director-General, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, highlighted the importance of effective parliamentary performance, which goes beyond lawmaking to include rigorous oversight, public finance scrutiny, and accountability in national resource management. Sulaiman noted that Uganda's projected economic growth of 6.5-7% in 2026 presents an encouraging prospect. He welcomed the Ugandan lawmakers' interest in learning from Nigeria's experiences.
The Ugandan delegation's visit is not their first engagement with NILDS, and they expect to gain fresh insights into Nigeria's economic management and institutional practices. Pacuto invited Nigerian legislators and NILDS officials to Uganda for further engagements and experience-sharing. The Ugandan lawmakers are also interested in Nigeria's cultural diversity and other areas of institutional experience.
The training workshop provides a platform for the Ugandan lawmakers to share experiences and learn from their Nigerian counterparts. The Ugandan delegation's visit demonstrates the growing collaboration between Nigeria and Uganda in the area of parliamentary capacity building. The workshop is expected to enhance the Ugandan lawmakers' capacity to oversee public finance and ensure accountability.
The visit by the Ugandan lawmakers underscores the importance of South-South cooperation in sharing knowledge and best practices in parliamentary governance. The collaboration between Nigeria and Uganda is expected to foster greater understanding and cooperation between the two countries. Key aspects of Nigeria's experience in managing public funds and sustainable borrowing will be shared with the Ugandan lawmakers.
Key points
- * Ugandan lawmakers seek Nigeria's expertise on sustainable borrowing and public funds management. * Nigeria's growing democratic experience makes it an ideal destination for parliamentary learning. * Uganda projects 6.5-7% economic growth in 2026, driven by effective public finance management.
