By Sabri Dibaco
The speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Joseph Ngere Paciko, held talks with his Ugandan counterpart, Anita Annette, aimed at strengthening parliamentary cooperation between South Sudan and Uganda.
According to a press release from the Office of the Speaker, the talks focused on areas including capacity building, preparations for the 2026 general elections, refugee engagement, oversight on the Nimule to Juba highway project, and the promotion of women, peace, and security within both legislatures.
The meeting underscored the longstanding bilateral ties between South Sudan and Uganda and reaffirmed the commitment of both parliaments to deepen institutional collaboration through exchange programs, technical support, and legislative training.
Speaker Paciko emphasised the importance of parliamentary capacity building ahead of the country’s planned 2026 elections, noting that lawmakers have a crucial role in promoting peaceful democratic participation and ensuring accountability during the electoral process. South Sudan is expected to hold general elections in December 2026.
“Both speakers agreed on the deployment of Ugandan MPs as East African community parliament witnesses to observe South Sudan’s December 2026 election,” the statement reads
The two leaders also discussed the welfare and engagement of refugees and returnees living in both countries, particularly communities affected by conflict and displacement along the common border. Uganda remains one of the largest host countries for South Sudanese refugees in the region.
Another major issue raised during the discussions was parliamentary oversight on the strategic Nimule–Juba Road, a critical economic corridor linking South Sudan to Uganda. The speakers stressed the need for continued monitoring of infrastructure projects to improve trade, movement of people, and regional integration.
“The speaker agreed to refer trade bottlenecks at Elegu-Nimule to the two heads of state, followed by joint parliamentary oversight,” the statement reads
The meeting further highlighted the importance of advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda within parliamentary institutions. The two speakers agreed on the need to increase women’s participation in leadership and peacebuilding processes while strengthening legislative frameworks that protect women’s rights and inclusion.
The Office of the Speaker described the engagement as a step toward enhancing regional parliamentary diplomacy and fostering cooperation on peace, governance, and development priorities shared by the two neighboring countries.
The two speakers further discussed joint oversight of the Nimule-Elegu border, medical referrals for TNLA MPs, and visits to South Sudanese refugee camps in Uganda for voter education. They also agreed to refer trade bottlenecks at the border to the two heads of state before conducting joint parliamentary oversight. An MoU on parliamentary cooperation is expected to follow.
This talk came just a day after the South Sudan president returned from Uganda after witnessing the inauguration of the Ugandan president after winning the election to continue his position.