I am a modest man, says Oboth-Oboth

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‘Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me’ was a prayer by Agur, son of Jakeh, and captured in Proverbs 30:8.

Agur’s reasoning was that he feared he might become arrogant and deny his need for God if God gave him a lot of riches, while, on the flip side, he feared he might be tempted to steal, bringing disgrace to God’s name if he were too poor.

This has been the same prayer that defence minister and current West Budama County South MP Jacob Oboth-Oboth said has been guiding him in his life.

Oboth-Oboth, who is touted as a candidate for Speakership of Uganda's newly sworn-in 12th Parliament, recounted how he resisted persuasion from different people to move a thanksgiving held at his home in Mukono district on Saturday to a bigger and posh venue.

Those pushing him considered the thanksgiving as a national function that could not fit in his ‘small’ home.

Defence minister and current West Budama County South MP Jacob Oboth-Oboth. (Credit: Stuart Yiga)

Defence minister and current West Budama County South MP Jacob Oboth-Oboth making his remarks during the thanksgiving. (Credit: Stuart Yiga)

“I argued with them and told them to leave me in my modesty. What is causing problems in the country are people who are pretending to be what they are not,” said Oboth-Oboth.

He said he has struggled to remain humble despite heading one of the country’s most funded ministries.

“It is very difficult to be Minister of Defence and be modest. There is no ministry in Uganda that has bigger budget allocations than the Ministry of Defence. No way. But I am still the same Oboth-Oboth with a short-sleeved Kaunda suit.

"To cause a change, you don’t need a lot of money in your pocket. You just need to have enough, and that was the prayer of one person,” said the lawmaker.

While he hosted scores of MPs of the 12th Parliament, back in Kampala, a joint security team raided the Nakasero residence of former Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among, the Bukedea Woman MP.

Sources close to the detectives said investigators were "looking for critical evidence." Huge metallic containers with undisclosed contents were among the items the security personnel loaded onto vans parked outside her residence on Makinnon Road. 

Among has been accused of a lavish lifestyle and public spending, with individuals and groups questioning the source of wealth. On Friday, May 16, the Inspectorate of Government (IG) confirmed processing a complaint seeking investigations into the wealth and assets of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, following a petition filed by a group of lawyers.

The complainants accused her of allegedly breaching the Leadership Code Act through failure to declare or possible under-declaration of her wealth.

They argue that Section 4 of the Leadership Code Act requires leaders to declare their income, assets, and liabilities every two years during the month of March.

They contend that failure to comply attracts penalties including dismissal from office and forfeiture of undeclared assets.

Oboth vs Among

On different occasions, Among has assured her supporters that she will retain her seat in the May 25, elections of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th parliament.

Her hopes were, however, crushed mid this week when the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a movement led by the Chief of Defence Force, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, withdrew support and instead endorsed Oboth for the Speakership of the 12th Parliament.

At the thanksgiving, Oboth appreciated the nomination and declared readiness to bid for the office.

At the event, David Kabanda, the secretary general and Kasambya County MP, elaborated on the reasons why Gen. Kainerugaba opted for the former minister instead of Among, as earlier communicated. 

“I have been instructed by my chairman to inform you, your family and MPs who are here that you are going to be the next Speaker of Parliament,” Kabanda said.