PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY! Speaker Oboth Commits to Revive Uganda-Iran Ties

The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has advocated for parliamentary diplomacy as a means to resolve the bureaucratic stalemate hindering various agreements between Uganda and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During a meeting at the Speaker’s Chambers on Thursday morning, Speaker Oboth received H.E. Majid Saffar, Iran’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Uganda, who was on a farewell visit at the conclusion of his four-year tenure.

Ambassador Saffar provided an overview of the current state of bilateral relations, highlighting that previous high-level engagements had resulted in signed agreements covering judicial cooperation, customs, banking, and trade. However, these agreements remain stuck in the final stages of administrative review.

In response, Speaker Oboth leveraged his defense background to note that executive channels frequently face significant bureaucratic delays. He proposed, “Parliament could step in to create direct frameworks, incentive laws, and business connections between the two countries.”

To support this initiative, the Speaker committed to revitalizing the Iran-Uganda Parliamentary Friendship Group and appointing a new cohort of Ugandan legislators to it. The two leaders concurred on the importance of inaugurating the group and maintaining open channels for cooperation.

Additionally, they discussed Iran’s proposals in trade, technology, health, and education, including supply routes for steel and fertilizers, drones for agricultural irrigation and security, and fully funded scholarships for Ugandan students.

Speaker Oboth expressed gratitude to Ambassador Saffar for his four years of service in Uganda and wished him success in his future endeavors.