Mao claims moral victory after securing 15 votes in Speaker election

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Outgoing justice minister Norbert Mao has said he would have resigned as Laroo-Pece Division MP if he had garnered fewer than 10 votes in the election for Speaker of the 12th Parliament.

The election, which was held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala on Monday, May 25, 2026, was won by the outgoing defence minister, Jacob Marksons Oboth, who represents West Budama Central in Parliament on the ruling party ticket.

Oboth obtained 441 votes, followed by Jinja South East legislator Paul Mwiru of the National Unity Platform with 60 votes, and Mao with 15 votes.

Mao, who is also the Democratic Party (DP) president, took to X and argued that despite the tyranny of numbers that overwhelmed them, they declared that theirs was not a numerical challenge but a moral challenge.

“We took up a fight everyone was cowering from and faced attacks from many quarters, including from friends blinded by short-term considerations. Many counselled me to throw in the towel, fearing the outcome of the ballot,” he said.

The DP strongman, whose party has only six lawmakers in the new Parliament, also contended that when the counting of votes started, one legislator told him that due to strict partisan voting, he would be lucky to get 10 votes.

“I put my seat on the line by telling him that if I got less than ten votes, I would resign from Parliament. That aside, despite the opposition we faced, the fight was worthwhile. Thanks to the power of outrage fueled by many patriots, Parliament can breathe again. Our collective efforts brought a gush of fresh air in Parliament.”

Oboth now replaces Bukedea Woman MP Anita Among, who withdrew from the competition on May 17, 2026, in order to maintain harmony and clarity in “my beloved party” after “wide consultations and deep introspection”.

She withdrew a few days after security forces under the direction of the President raided her residences in Kampala and Wakiso districts, seizing cash and other luxury items over suspected corruption, money laundering and abuse of office.

The raid was described by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as ‘Operation Maliza Ufisadi’. Maliza Ufisadi is a Swahili phrase that directly translates to “end corruption”.

Muhoozi said the operation had just started and that they had already retrieved “quite a lot of the people’s money and property”.

“Everything will be returned to the Treasury. I will give a partial report soon. I advise all government officials to co-operate fully with the security…in order to avoid arrest,” he warned.

Muhoozi had earlier posted on his X handle, saying they would expand the operation and apprehend all culprits. “No one will be spared,” the CDF promised.