parliament 23 September 2026 Parliament of Uganda
Uganda Parliament to Revive Training Institute with German Backing
Uganda's Parliament is set to relaunch its Institute of Parliamentary Studies, with crucial support from the German Legislature. The initiative aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of MPs and parliamentary staff through specialized training and exchange programs. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4627/parliament-revive-institute-parliamentary-studies-german-support
Speaker Jacob Oboth has announced plans to re-establish the Institute of Parliamentary Studies (IPS), marking a significant step towards enhancing legislative capacity in Uganda. This initiative, which will be supported by the German Parliament, aims to provide comprehensive training and development opportunities for Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff.
The IPS, initially established in 2012, was intended to offer specialized in-house training. Although it was formally closed in 2021, its functions were absorbed by the Corporate Planning and Strategy Department. The revived institute is envisioned to become a central hub for training, research, and capacity building.
Under a planned Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the German Parliament, Uganda will benefit from cooperation and technical support. Speaker Oboth highlighted that this partnership will facilitate learning best practices, strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, and fostering a deeper understanding of parliamentary processes through exchange and study visits to Germany.
This collaboration is expected to extend beyond internal capacity building, with the MOU facilitating delegations of MPs and potentially investors between the two nations. It will also support joint engagements on critical areas such as trade, humanitarian assistance, human rights, and governance, thereby complementing traditional diplomatic efforts.
German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Sigrid Sommer, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the mutual benefits of such exchanges. She confirmed that German experts would contribute to training programs at the institute, focusing on targeted thematic areas. Ambassador Sommer also noted existing scholarship and internship programs that could further benefit Ugandan participants, signaling a new phase in Uganda-Germany parliamentary cooperation.