The Speakers of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan and the Parliament of Uganda have agreed on closer parliamentary cooperation, including the deployment of Ugandan MPs as election observers for South Sudan’s 2026 polls and expanded support for budget oversight reforms in Juba.

In a statement by the office of the South Sudan Speaker dated 13, May, 2026, following their meeting in Kampala, Speaker Joseph Ngero Paciko said the discussions centered on strengthening institutional capacity and regional democratic standards.

“We agreed on deeper parliamentary cooperation, including support for training in budget scrutiny, committee systems, and parliamentary administration to strengthen the effectiveness of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly,” the statement said.

Uganda’s Speaker Anita Annet Among also emphasized the importance of regional parliamentary engagement, particularly ahead of South Sudan’s elections.

“We are committed to supporting democratic processes in our region, including by facilitating East African Community parliamentary observers for the 2026 elections in South Sudan,” it added.

The two leaders further agreed that Ugandan parliamentarians would participate as East African Community witnesses during the December 2026 elections, a move intended to enhance transparency and credibility of the electoral process.

The statement also noted that South Sudan requested continued technical assistance to improve parliamentary budget scrutiny, with a focus on strengthening committee oversight and financial accountability systems ahead of the polls.