Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth, has reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to strengthening East African integration after concluding a working visit to Arusha, Tanzania, where regional Speakers held talks on parliamentary cooperation.
Oboth Oboth joined Speakers of national parliaments from the East African Community (EAC) Partner States for the 21st Bureau of Speakers Meeting, where discussions focused on matters affecting national legislatures and ways of deepening regional integration. The meeting was held in Arusha, which is also the headquarters of the EAC.
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has confirmed that the 16th EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games will be hosted in Arusha later this year. Preparations for the competition were among the issues discussed by the Speakers.
Oboth said national parliaments have an important role to play in shaping the future of both their respective countries and the wider region.
“We did not choose to be East Africans; East Africa chose us,” he told fellow Speakers, while echoing remarks previously made by Kenya’s National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on the role of national legislatures in advancing the region’s agenda.
The Ugandan Speaker said he was encouraged by the commitment shown by EAC Partner States during the meeting, adding that Parliament has a responsibility to contribute to regional cooperation.
Oboth also used the meeting to reflect on his first experience at the Speakers’ Bureau. He noted that he had been in office for about three-and-a-half months, while his Somali counterpart, Speaker Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, had served for about two months.
The two Speakers share previous experience in defence, having served as ministers responsible for the sector before assuming parliamentary leadership. Oboth joked that their careers could create the impression that serving as a defence minister was a requirement for becoming a Speaker.
He said their background could nevertheless contribute to discussions on regional defence and security, a sector he described as being among the more integrated areas within the EAC.
Oboth further clarified that Uganda was advocating integration rather than political unification of East African countries.
“We are not asking for the unification of East Africa,” he said, explaining that integration allows Partner States to cooperate on common interests while retaining their individual identities.
On the Inter-Parliamentary Games, Oboth pledged Uganda’s full participation and expressed confidence that the country would compete for the trophy in Arusha.
He recalled previous sporting contests between Uganda and Kenya, saying Uganda had defeated Kenya in Mombasa before Kenya later secured its revenge when the competition moved to Uganda.
“That is what the Games are about,” Oboth said, describing the competition as part of the broader interaction among regional legislatures.
The EAC Speakers’ Bureau has continued to use parliamentary cooperation and the Inter-Parliamentary Games as platforms for strengthening relations among Partner States.