Uganda seeks stronger Parliamentary ties with Russian State Duma – Speaker Oboth

By Our Reporter

Uganda is seeking to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy with the Russian State Duma to deepen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth has said.

Oboth said Uganda and Russia share a long-standing historical relationship that both legislatures should leverage to promote mutual understanding, exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation.

He made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of the Russian State Duma on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, India, on Monday, October 26, 2026.

“Uganda and Russia enjoy a very deep historical relationship that dates back many years,” Oboth said.

The Speaker, who led the Ugandan parliamentary delegation, said both legislatures had valuable experiences to share and lessons to learn from each other.

“We believe there is a lot your Parliament can learn from us, and there is also a lot that we can learn from you,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi; Hon. Annet Katusiime (NRM, Bushenyi District Woman Representative); Hon. Ismail Mulemya (NRM, Busia Municipality); Hon. Betty Nakisita (Independent, Namutumba District Woman Representative); and Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, Prof. Joyce Kikafunda.

During the engagement, Oboth and the Russian representatives extended invitations for parliamentary visits to their respective countries, signalling a commitment to establishing stronger institutional relations between the two legislatures.

The Russian delegation comprised Alexander Babakov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma and member of the A Just Russia party; Vladislav Davankov of the New People party; Vladimir Kashin of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation; Nadezhda Shkolkina, First Deputy Chairperson of the Duma’s Committee on Economic Policy; and Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov.

The Russian representatives emphasised the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in supporting and complementing the bilateral relationship established by the Presidents of the two countries.

“There are frequent meetings between the President of the Russian Federation and the President of Uganda, and they set a good basis for the development of future relations,” the Russian delegation said.

The engagement underscores Uganda’s interest in using parliamentary diplomacy as an additional channel for strengthening its international partnerships, building on existing political relations and opening new avenues for cooperation.