The overall goal of the Parliamentary Research and Internship Program (PRIP) is to increase the capacity of UMU and IUIU to train and support interns to work with Uganda’s parliamentary committees and caucuses. SUNY – Albany will draw on its previous experience in administering legislative internship programs in Uganda, and its current work on USAID/Uganda’s Democratic Linkages Program, which targets the same parliamentary committees and caucuses.

University partners hope to utilize faculty expertise and resources from SUNY - Albany to provide the training and technical assistance to their colleagues at UMU and IUIU on topics related to legislative research and analysis, summary of issues before the committees and caucuses, comparative research and analysis of other legislatures, and field research.

Approximately 20 students from UMU and IUIU will be trained, supported, and placed in parliamentary internships each academic semester over the course of the three-year partnership.  They will work with committees and caucuses on issues including peacebuilding and development in northern Uganda, women’s and children’s rights, natural resource management, corruption, and HIV/AIDS.  University professors, parliamentary staff, and current and former members of Parliament will participate in the orientation and training of the interns.