Oboth-Oboth vows to ensure corruption-free Parliament

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The newly elected Speaker of the 12^th Parliament, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, has vowed to ensure a corruption-free Parliament during his tenure.

In his maiden remarks after being declared the winner, Oboth-Oboth noted: “I can testify before you all gathered here today that faithful and strategic patience has brought us this far.”

Oboth-Oboth said he stood before the House in the official Speaker’s regalia not by accident, but because God has made it all possible.

He thanked President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leadership and Members of Parliament for the confidence placed in him. “To those who may not have voted for me, I will be your Speaker too,” he said.

The Chief Justice, Dr Flavian Zeija, on Monday, May 25, declared Oboth-Oboth the Speaker-elect of the 12th Parliament after he defeated his two rivals in a landslide vote at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.

The event was presided over by the President of Uganda and NRM chairperson, Yoweri Museveni. Oboth-Oboth secured 441 votes, beating National Unity Platform's (NUP) Paul Mwiru (Jinja Municipality East), who got 60 votes, and Democratic Party president general Norbert Mao (Laroo-Pece Division), who got 15. Three votes were spoiled.

The new Speaker leaned heavily on faith as he narrated his personal journey from humble beginnings in Muafu, Tororo District, to Parliament’s highest office.

“From a rural village in Muafu, Tororo District, I struggled to attain better education, and today I stand before you as Speaker of the 12th Parliament. It can only be by divine grace,” Oboth-Oboth told MPs.

Beyond the personal testimony, Oboth-Oboth used the moment to set out a firm legislative agenda. “We pledge a corruption-free Parliament,” he said, promising a House that would be built on integrity, accountability and discipline.

He argued that accountability must begin with MPs themselves before being demanded from the Executive and other arms of government.

“In the next five years, we shall hold the Executive and other government bodies accountable, but we must first begin with ourselves,” he said.

He also promised to shift Parliament’s focus from procedures that look impressive on paper to work that delivers results for citizens.

“Every Bill, motion, and decision must directly respond to the needs of the ordinary citizen,” he said, adding that budgeting and appropriation should no longer become “an exercise in financial engineering and distortion, but a results-driven endeavour to deliver services to our people.”

Oboth-Oboth said Parliament must embrace transparency and work with journalists rather than treat them as adversaries. “We must recognise that the media is not our enemy, but the public’s eye,” he said.

On oversight, he warned that committees should not wait until after money has been lost. “Oversight should not be a post-mortem,” he said, urging real-time scrutiny to protect public resources.

“My final promise to all Ugandans is that, as I assume this high office of Speaker, I remain the same person, and I will not change in character or commitment,” he said, adding, “Let us all serve the Parliament and the people of Uganda with humility, modesty, and honour.”