Speaker Oboth, Russian delegation exchange invitations
During closed talks with the Russian State Duma (lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia) in New Delhi, India, on Monday (October 26), Oboth said Uganda and Russia share a long history that their parliaments should leverage. The Russian side returned the invitation, asking Speaker Oboth to visit Moscow.
The Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth, meeting his Russian counterpart and his delegation. (Courtesy)
__________________ The Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth greeting his Russian counterpart. (Courtesy)
NEW DELHI — The Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth, has invited his Russian counterpart and his delegation to Uganda.
During closed talks with the Russian State Duma (lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia) in New Delhi, India, on Monday (October 26), Oboth said Uganda and Russia share a long history that their parliaments should leverage. The Russian side returned the invitation, asking Speaker Oboth to visit Moscow.
Earlier on Sunday (October 25), the Speaker held talks with the Russian delegation at the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum.
The Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth. (Courtesy)
The Speaker was joined by other legislators, including leader of opposition and Nakawa West Division MP Joel Ssenyonyi, Annet Katusiime Mugisha (Bushenyi Woman), Sowedi Ismail Mulemya (Busia Municipality), Betty Mpongo Nakisita (Namutumba Woman), as well as Prof. Joyce Kikafunda, Uganda’s High Commissioner to India.
The Russian delegation included Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma, Alexander Babakov of A Just Russia party; Vladislav Davankov of New People party; Vladimir Kashin of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation; Nadezhda Shkolkina, first deputy chair of the Duma’s Committee on Economic Policy; and Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov.
They revealed that State Duma deputy chairperson (Babakov) oversees the Duma’s work on energy, infrastructure, trade and construction.
Speaker Oboth said both Parliaments had much to share. “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.
He said he was not aware of any Russian Speaker having led a delegation to Uganda, and that the first to do so would make headlines at home.
Speaking of his own role, Oboth joked that he had been Speaker only since May. “I am also a new Speaker. So, I am still learning how to relate with this very important man,” he added, gesturing towards the Leader of the Opposition (Ssenyonyi).
Trade between Uganda and Russia is small and uneven. In 2024, Uganda imported goods worth $190.69m from Russia, mostly wheat, and exported goods worth $39.30m, mainly coffee. Russia supplied 83% of the wheat Uganda imported that year.