Speaker Oboth Pushes for Lifting of UAE Travel Restrictions, Stronger Trade Ties with China

What the report says

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth used meetings on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, India, to press for stronger ties with the United Arab Emirates and China, according to Watchdog Uganda. The forum took place from October 26 to 27, 2026, and focused on parliamentary cooperation and development.

In his talks with UAE Federal National Council Speaker Saqr Ghobash, Oboth urged reconsideration of travel restrictions placed on Ugandans after the Ebola outbreak. He argued that Uganda had taken steps to protect citizens and visitors and said the UAE remains an important market for Ugandan exports. He also discussed ways to broaden trade beyond gold, encouraging more sales of coffee, fish, fruit and other processed goods, alongside greater investment in domestic value addition.

Oboth separately met Zheng Jianbang, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, to discuss parliamentary relations, trade and investment. He noted China’s role in major Ugandan infrastructure projects, including the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway and the Isimba and Karuma hydropower plants, and welcomed China’s tariff-free access for African products as an opportunity for Ugandan exporters.

The article presents the engagements as part of Uganda’s broader use of parliamentary diplomacy to support government-to-government relations. Oboth was accompanied by members of parliament including Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi.