Uganda and Pakistan have resolved to build concrete legislative and economic frameworks to expand bilateral trade, knowledge sharing, and climate resilience.
The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth, secured the commitment during discussions with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, on Monday in Cape Town, South Africa. Both leaders met on the margins of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which concludes on September 18.
Uganda is currently mapping out a select group of strategic global allies. Speaker Oboth identified Pakistan as a vital partner in this diplomatic drive.
Both leaders agreed to move beyond symbolic diplomatic talks. They resolved to create operational agreements that deliver direct socio-economic benefits to citizens in both nations.
Speaker Oboth commended the active Pakistani business community in Uganda. He noted that their commercial investments provide a solid base for wider bilateral ties.
"Uganda is willing and ready to strengthen this relationship so that we offer our citizens greater opportunities," the Speaker said.
Speaker Oboth urged lawmakers to leverage parliamentary tools to reform tax structures and facilitate cross-border commerce. He underscored that parliaments must actively steer national economic growth.
"This friendship puts into place grounds for deeper bilateral engagements between the two countries, including exchange programmes," Oboth said. "[Parliament of Uganda] is ready to share experiences in areas of capacity building, education, research and information sharing."
Both speakers also prioritized concerted action against global warming. Speaker Oboth praised Pakistan's proactive environmental diplomacy on international platforms.
In response, Speaker Sadiq noted that Pakistan has prioritized Africa within its contemporary foreign policy. He called on both legislatures to formalize cooperation through Memorandums of Understanding.
Speaker Sadiq pointed out that Pakistan’s legislature and academic institutions have adopted paperless systems to reduce their carbon footprint. He offered to share these green innovations with Uganda's legislature.
The two leaders revisited their historical cooperation inside the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Speaker Sadiq expressed gratitude for Uganda’s pivotal role in rallying African nations to support his election as CPA President in Cameroon in 2014.
Speaker Oboth in turn recognized Pakistan’s historic backing of former Ugandan Speaker Rebecca Kadaga during her tenure as Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women’s Forum.
Speaker Sadiq formally invited Speaker Oboth to Islamabad to conduct bilateral engagements with Pakistan's Parliament and top government leadership.
Six Ugandan CPA delegation members attended the bilateral meeting: Hon. Emely Kugonza, Hon. Naome Kabasharira, Hon. Benard Otim, Hon. Fortunate Nantongo, Hon. Silas Aogon, and Hon. Adrine Katusiime. H.E. Paul Amoru, Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, also joined the delegation.
