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Jacob Oboth-Oboth elected Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament
Oboth-Oboth secured 441 votes in the election held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala on Monday, 25 May 2026.
West Budama Central Member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Oboth-Oboth, surrounded by other Members of Parliament congratulating him upon his election as the next Speaker of the 12th Parliament. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
By: John Odyek, Journalist @New Vision
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West Budama Central Member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Oboth-Oboth has been elected Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament for the 2026–2031 term.
Oboth-Oboth secured 441 votes in the election held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala on Monday, 25 May 2026.
West Budama Central Member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Oboth-Oboth. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
Oboth-Oboth celebrating with other legislators. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
Outgoing deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, congratulating Oboth-Oboth. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
Norbert Mao, the MP for Laroo-Pece Division in Gulu City and Democratic Party president got 15 votes, while Paul Mwiri, the MP for Jinja East Division and member of the National Unity Platform garnered 60 votes.
Former Speaker Anita Among, the Bukedea District Woman MP, and Yorke Idris Alioni, the MP for Aringa South County, were called to vote but were absent, together with several other MPs.
Voting closed at 12:47pm before Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige opened the ballot boxes for counting.
Each MP was issued a blank ballot paper and required to write the name of one preferred candidate. Three ballots were declared invalid after some MPs wrote more than one name. President Yoweri Museveni attended the event.
Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija presided over the election and pledged a transparent process. It was the first parliamentary leadership election overseen by Zeija since he was sworn in as Chief Justice in January 2026.
No member abstained, but there were three spoilt ballot papers, according to Zeija. “I, therefore, declare honourable Oboth-Oboth, who has got the highest number of votes (441) as the duly elected speaker of parliament,” Zeija said. President Museveni later administered the oath of office. Going by the figures that voted, the exercise attracted 519 MPs, out of the total number of 529 MPs. This means 10 MPs did not show up for the voting exercise.