Inter-parliamentary diplomacy and bilateral cooperation was at the centre of discussions when Speaker Anita Among met a delegation of envoys on Wednesday, 12 March 2025.
The meeting which took place in the Speaker’s boardroom had ambassadors and heads of mission from member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
OIC is the second largest inter-governmental organisation that strives to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world.
Speaker Among underscored the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in strengthening bilateral relations among countries.
“The Parliament of Uganda is cognisant of the reality that legislatures can no longer work in isolation of the international community of legislatures. Inter-parliamentary cooperation is the future of parliamentary diplomacy,” Among said.
“I am optimistic that the outcomes of this meeting will go a long way in strengthening the fraternal relations among our countries,” she added.
She expressed Parliament’s desire to establish the parliamentary friendship groups with legislatures from the OIC member states in order to expand and strengthen cooperation and empower parliaments.
“The groups will provide a non-partisan forum for legislators to share ideas and focus their mandate on improving the lives of those they represent,” Among said.
She also implored envoys to take keen interest in the support of education of the Muslim girl child in Uganda whom she said has historically been marginalised and exploited.
The heads of mission committed to continue fostering parliamentary diplomacy as a channel to strengthen bilateral ties with Uganda and other countries.
“Parliament has an important role to play with embassies in order to strengthen bilateral relations...When there was a challenge of Foot and Mouth Disease [in Uganda], we worked with the Executive and also Parliament and provided 10 million doses to Uganda to combat the disease,” H.E Monzer Fathi Abdel Aziz, the Egyptian Ambassador to Uganda said.
The High Commissioner of Pakistan, H.E Muhammad Hassan Wazir said advocacy on girl child education is an important subject where his country will definitely cooperate to support and that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been shared with Parliament.
The Iranian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Majid Saffar stood in solidarity with Speaker Among over the recent U.S sanctions following the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023.
“As a country, we have been under sanctions for 46 years, so don’t worry about the sanctions...we are ready to have you in Iran,” he said.
