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Speaker Oboth confident his tenure will deliver results
The Speaker told members that leadership transitions are a natural part of public life and should be embraced rather than feared.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth (centre). (Credit: Simon Peter Tumwine)
By: Simon Peter Tumwine and Sarah Nabakooza, Journalists @New Vision
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Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has expressed confidence that his tenure would deliver results. “I want to tell you, wait and see what God is going to do. If you have ever had a determined Speaker, you have one now.”
He appealed for patience as he settles into the role. “So give me some time, don't push me too much, you will see results,” Oboth said.
“These offices, we should accept that there will be those coming in and those coming out. Otherwise, how would I be a Speaker now?” he asked. Oboth said recent events within government demonstrate how quickly fortunes and responsibilities can change.
Oboth made the remarks as he presided over the handover of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) Secretary General's office from outgoing Secretary General David Kabanda to his successor, Fadil Twalla, at the PLU headquarters in Naguru on Wednesday. Guests included: cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, religious and political leaders, and hundreds of PLU members and well-wishers.
The Speaker told members that leadership transitions are a natural part of public life and should be embraced rather than feared.
“Tomorrow I will be making four weeks in Parliament as Speaker. Others thought I would not make one week. Actually, others thought I was not worth being a Speaker,” he said.
He revealed that he never expected, saying he is still adjusting to the reality of being Speaker nearly a month after assuming the position. Oboth said he never expected to get that office.
“I was in Mbuya, very comfortable as Minister of Defence. My friend (Kiryowa Kiwanuka) was somewhere along in Naguru here as Attorney General. Little did he know that we were going to switch roles. And now we have the former Attorney General as Minister of Defence.”
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth (Left) sharing a moment with new PLU secretary general Twalla Fadil (Right). (Credit: Simon Peter Tumwine)
The Speaker told members that leadership transitions are a natural part of public life and should be embraced rather than feared.
“Tomorrow I will be making four weeks in Parliament as Speaker. Others thought I would not make one week. Actually, others thought I was not worth being a Speaker,” he said.
He revealed that he never expected, saying he is still adjusting to the reality of being Speaker nearly a month after assuming the position. Oboth said he never expected to get that office.
“I was in Mbuya, very comfortable as Minister of Defence. My friend (Kiryowa Kiwanuka) was somewhere along in Naguru here as Attorney General. Little did he know that we were going to switch roles. And now we have the former Attorney General as Minister of Defence.”
According to the Speaker, such developments illustrate that leadership positions are ultimately determined by forces beyond human calculation. “Government works in different ways. And therefore, especially a government established by God works in different ways,” he said.
Oboth credited the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for creating opportunities that allow ordinary Ugandans to rise to positions of national leadership regardless of their social or economic background.
“The NRM government, which I know most about, is the only government that has given us hope that a son of a peasant, like me, can be a Speaker in Uganda,” he said.
The Speaker said his own story should inspire Ugandans who may feel overlooked because of where they come from. He pointed to the appointment of the new PLU Secretary General, Twalla, as another example of how leadership opportunities can emerge from unexpected places.
“You can see General MK picking a man from Sebei, and you wonder why. I'm sure some of you came here to prove, ‘Is it true?’ Hon. Fadil, get up. You are the new Secretary General of PLU. Stand up again. So it is true,” he said amid laughter from the audience.
“Regardless of whether you think you could have been the one, God's ways are not our ways. Neither are His thoughts our thoughts,” he said.
The Speaker revealed that even after nearly four weeks in office, he still finds it difficult to believe that he is now occupying one of the most powerful positions in the country. “These days, I'm just getting to terms with being a Speaker. When I hear people say, 'Right Honourable Speaker,' I also look around. Who am I then?” he remarked.
Regarding the operations, Oboth said that the organisation must remain cohesive if it is to achieve its objectives. “There are no splinter groups within PLU. The Central Committee has been restructured, and the survival of this PLU depends on absolute cohesion.”
Oboth emphasised that the pressure group exists to complement rather than compete with the ruling party. “You are here to support the NRM government and not to undermine it,” he said.
Oboth also congratulated outgoing PLU Secretary General David Kabanda for laying the foundation of the organisation and helping establish its structures during its formative years.
“I thank Hon. David Kabanda for his years of dedicated service as the pioneer Secretary General of PLU. He set a high standard for this position, and we commend him for his contribution as he moves to another role,” he said.
Turning to the incoming Secretary General, the Speaker cautioned against viewing leadership as a title or privilege. “I offer a message that is both a welcome and a warning. You inherit not a title, but a trust,” he said.
“The mistake we make many times when we get to these offices is that we think it is an office and not a commission.”
The Speaker also stressed the importance of unity within PLU, warning members against internal divisions. “PLU stands for unity, and unity is not a slogan. It is a weapon. Use that weapon well.”
He asked the new Secretary General to ensure that his team are accused of any malpractice. “There should not be any other scandals involving PLU members in any form of corruption,” Oboth warned.
He singled out practices such as land grabbing, theft of public resources and failure by leaders to serve citizens, saying PLU members must distinguish themselves through selfless leadership.
“One of the principles of PLU is to fight corruption and patriotism. Some of us who are now PLU and also in positions of responsibility, let's demonstrate this in real time,” he said.
Oboth credited the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for creating opportunities that allow ordinary Ugandans to rise to positions of national leadership regardless of their social or economic background.
“The NRM government, which I know most about, is the only government that has given us hope that a son of a peasant, like me, can be a Speaker in Uganda,” he said.
The Speaker said his own story should inspire Ugandans who may feel overlooked because of where they come from. He pointed to the appointment of the new PLU Secretary General, Twalla, as another example of how leadership opportunities can emerge from unexpected places.
“You can see General MK picking a man from Sebei, and you wonder why. I'm sure some of you came here to prove, ‘Is it true?’ Hon. Fadil, get up. You are the new Secretary General of PLU. Stand up again. So it is true,” he said amid laughter from the audience.
“Regardless of whether you think you could have been the one, God's ways are not our ways. Neither are His thoughts our thoughts,” he said.
PLU Secretary General Fadul Twaha (4th left), Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth (centre), Michael Mawanda (2nd right), Edwin Karugire (right), and other guests pose for a photo moment during the event on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (Credit: Simon Peter Tumwine)
The Speaker revealed that even after nearly four weeks in office, he still finds it difficult to believe that he is now occupying one of the most powerful positions in the country. “These days, I'm just getting to terms with being a Speaker. When I hear people say, 'Right Honourable Speaker,' I also look around. Who am I then?” he remarked.
Regarding the operations, Oboth said that the organisation must remain cohesive if it is to achieve its objectives. “There are no splinter groups within PLU. The Central Committee has been restructured, and the survival of this PLU depends on absolute cohesion.”
Oboth emphasised that the pressure group exists to complement rather than compete with the ruling party. “You are here to support the NRM government and not to undermine it,” he said.
Oboth also congratulated outgoing PLU Secretary General David Kabanda for laying the foundation of the organisation and helping establish its structures during its formative years.
“I thank Hon. David Kabanda for his years of dedicated service as the pioneer Secretary General of PLU. He set a high standard for this position, and we commend him for his contribution as he moves to another role,” he said.
Turning to the incoming Secretary General, the Speaker cautioned against viewing leadership as a title or privilege. “I offer a message that is both a welcome and a warning. You inherit not a title, but a trust,” he said.
“The mistake we make many times when we get to these offices is that we think it is an office and not a commission.”
The Speaker also stressed the importance of unity within PLU, warning members against internal divisions. “PLU stands for unity, and unity is not a slogan. It is a weapon. Use that weapon well.”
He asked the new Secretary General to ensure that his team are accused of any malpractice. “There should not be any other scandals involving PLU members in any form of corruption,” Oboth warned.
He singled out practices such as land grabbing, theft of public resources and failure by leaders to serve citizens, saying PLU members must distinguish themselves through selfless leadership.
“One of the principles of PLU is to fight corruption and patriotism. Some of us who are now PLU and also in positions of responsibility, let's demonstrate this in real time,” he said.