Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has urged stronger trade and investment ties with India, highlighting opportunities to expand Ugandan exports and attract investment in domestic processing.
Uganda and India are seeking to deepen trade and investment ties, with Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth urging increased access for Ugandan products to the Indian market and more investment in local processing.
Oboth made the remarks during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi, on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, taking place on October 26 and 27, 2026.
The forum brings together parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries to discuss institutional resilience, innovation, international cooperation and sustainable development.
Oboth said Uganda and India shared longstanding relations rooted in trade, history and the presence of Indian nationals who have made Uganda their home.
“As a BRICS partner country, Uganda is here to deepen these ties. Our two-way trade is about $1.35 billion a year, and there is room to grow it, especially by bringing more Ugandan products to the Indian market and attracting investment in processing at home,” Oboth said.
He said Uganda’s participation in the forum would also contribute to discussions on strengthening institutions, promoting sustainable development and making global governance more representative.
The delegation is also expected to engage in discussions on digital innovation and human-centred artificial intelligence, issues included among the forum’s broader themes.
Uganda became a BRICS partner country in 2025, providing an additional platform for engagement with the grouping’s member states and other partner countries.
The parliamentary forum offers participating delegations an opportunity to exchange views on shared development priorities and strengthen parliamentary relations.
Oboth was accompanied by Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, Nakawa West MP; Betty Nakisita Mpongo, Woman MP for Namutumba District; Sowedi Ismail Mulemya, Busia Municipality MP; and Annet Katusiime Mugisha, Woman MP for Bushenyi District.
The delegation’s participation forms part of Uganda’s broader parliamentary diplomacy efforts to strengthen international relations and explore opportunities for trade, investment and cooperation.
