Speaker Oboth Restores Parliamentary Press Gallery

What the report says

Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, has ordered the Parliamentary Press Gallery returned to journalists, reversing a restriction that had been in place since the 11th Parliament. According to Nile Post, the decision was communicated on Monday after a meeting last Friday between the Speaker and leaders of the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA).

UPPA said the arrangement was finalized with Parliamentary Security and the Office of the Director, Clerk to Parliament, and the gallery was reopened for use with Tuesday’s plenary sitting. The association said the restored space will be used by writers and reporters, while camera operators will continue working from their usual position near the VIP Gallery.

The move is intended to give parliamentary reporters better access and working conditions after they had been forced to cover proceedings from more limited and crowded spaces. UPPA described the development as an important step for media coverage of Parliament and for professional reporting in the House.

More broadly, restoring a dedicated press area can improve the flow of parliamentary reporting and support closer scrutiny of legislative proceedings. The reported decision also reflects ongoing discussions in Uganda about media access, press freedom and the practical conditions under which journalists cover state institutions.