Editorial
Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate, was on Monday elected speaker of the 12th Parliament, trouncing two other candidates during the inaugural parliament proceedings held at Kololo ceremonial grounds in Kampala and immediately sworn in office in a ceremony presided over by President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Oboth-Oboth, the MP for West Budama South and former Defence Minister, garnered 441 votes beating opposition party candidates Norbert Mao of the Democratic Party (DP) and Paul Mwiru of the National Unity Platform (NUP) who got 15 and 60 votes respectively. There were 3 invalid votes. Total of 519 votes were cast.
NRM party commands a dominant majority in the 12th Parliament with 354 directly elected Members of Parliament (MPs).
With NRM-leaning independent lawmakers factored in, the party’s total parliamentary strength is approximately 359 seats in the 529-member House.
Meanwhile, there are 50 NUP MPs in Uganda’s 12th Parliament while DP has only six MPs.
On Sunday, the ruling National Resistance Movement at a meeting held at State House Entebbe endorsed Oboth-Oboth as its flag bearer for Speaker of the 12th Parliament and Thomas Tayebwa as the party’s candidate for Deputy Speaker.
Earlier, President Yoweri Museveni welcomed the endorsement of Oboth-Oboth and Tayebwa as the 12th Parliament NRM candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively, following Sunday’s caucus meeting at State House Entebbe.
Chief Justice Flavian Zeija, who presided over the election as required by the Constitution, formally declared Oboth-Oboth the winner amid loud celebrations and ululations from legislators gathered at Kololo.
The election concludes a dramatic and fast-evolving Speakership race that saw the unexpected withdrawal of outgoing Speaker Anita Annet Among. Among, who had initially appeared poised to seek another term after taking the oath of office as a Member of Parliament on May 13, saw her position weaken amid investigations and growing political pressure within sections of the ruling establishment.
The contest also highlighted the growing influence of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and its patron, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in shaping political alignments ahead of the new parliamentary term. As has traditionally been the case within the NRM, key parliamentary leadership positions were largely settled through internal party consensus before the formal vote on the floor of Parliament.
Oboth-Oboth’s election is expected to usher in a new chapter in the leadership of Parliament, with supporters arguing that his extensive legal background, committee leadership experience, and executive service position him well to steer the 12th Parliament through a period of heightened public scrutiny and increasing demands for institutional accountability.
Educational Background, Career and Leadership
Oboth-Oboth is a lawyer with expertise in intellectual property law and has served as Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs since April 2024, having previously served as State Minister for Defence.
During his parliamentary career, Oboth-Oboth has held several influential positions, including chairing the Parliamentary Committees on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Rules, Discipline and Privileges, and Natural Resources.
Oboth-Oboth first entered Parliament in 2011 as an Independent candidate before later joining the NRM. In 2016, he became the first legislator from his constituency since 1996 to win consecutive parliamentary terms. Before joining elective politics, he served as a State Attorney under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in Mbale, and later as Deputy Attorney General of the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, and a Master of Laws in Election and Cyber Law from the University of Minnesota.
