By Ben Musanje
Newly elected Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jackson Marksons Oboth-Oboth has signaled a major shift in the leadership and direction of Uganda’s Parliament, promising openness, accountability, and fairness to both ruling party and opposition legislators in his maiden speech as Speaker of the 12th Parliament.
In an address marked by humility, religious reflection, and promises of reform, Oboth-Oboth who represents West Budama Central County vowed to restore public confidence in Parliament while distancing his leadership from the controversial practices that characterized the tenure of former Speaker Anita Among, particularly on media access and relations with opposition lawmakers.
One of the strongest messages from his speech was his commitment to reopening Parliament to the media and fostering transparency in the legislative process.
“Unobjective and ethical media are not our enemies but the public’s eye and ear,” Oboth-Oboth said shortly after taking oath as Speaker. “We must maintain a transparent, decent, and open Parliament. When we close our doors to the media, a negative perception is generated.”
He added: “If we are clean and doing a good job, why hide? I will encourage a professional and robust relationship with the press at all times in order to bridge the gap between the House and our people.”
The remarks immediately drew attention across the political and media landscape, with many interpreting them as a direct departure from the restrictive media policies under Anita Among.
During her tenure, journalists from Nation Media Group (NMG), including reporters from Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, were barred from accessing parliamentary coverage after the former Speaker accused the media house of negative reporting about Parliament. The decision attracted criticism from press freedom advocates, civil society organizations, and opposition politicians, who argued that it undermined transparency and the public’s right to information.
Oboth-Oboth’s speech appeared designed to calm those tensions and project a more inclusive image of Parliament under his leadership.
The new Speaker also extended an olive branch to opposition Members of Parliament, assuring them that despite political differences, he would serve all legislators equally.
“To those who may not have voted for me, I will be your Speaker too,” he told MPs during the sitting.
His comments were widely viewed as an attempt to ease partisan tensions inside the House and reassure opposition legislators who often accused the previous leadership of bias in handling parliamentary debates and disciplinary matters.
Oboth-Oboth, a member of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) overwhelmingly won the Speaker race after defeating National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Paul Mwiiru by 441 votes to 60. Democratic Party President Norbert Mao garnered 15 votes out of the 519 ballots cast by MPs.
The victory cemented the ruling National Resistance Movement’s dominance in Parliament and underscored the confidence the NRM leadership has placed in Oboth-Oboth.
In his speech, the Speaker thanked President Yoweri Museveni and the NRM establishment for supporting his political journey since 2011.
“I wish to thank my NRM Party Chairman, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for the confidence and trust he showed in my abilities,” he said.
However, Oboth-Oboth also emphasized that his new role transcends party politics, describing the Speaker’s office as “a servant’s post” rather than a throne.
“My role now is to ensure that, working together, the voices of the over 48 million Ugandans who send us here are heard, protected, and respected,” he said.
Throughout the speech, Oboth-Oboth repeatedly invoked faith and divine guidance, attributing his rise from humble beginnings in Muwafu village in Tororo District to God’s grace.
“For a boy who grew up in a rural village called Muwafu in Tororo District, who hustled to attain better education, and today stands before you as the Speaker of the Twelfth Parliament, it could only be by divine grace,” he said.
The Speaker also unveiled what he described as seven pillars that would guide his leadership over the next five years, focusing heavily on integrity, accountability, research-driven debates, people-centered legislation, and proactive oversight.
At the center of his agenda was a promise to fight corruption within Parliament itself before demanding accountability from other government institutions.
“I pledge a corruption-free Parliament,” he said. “Under my leadership, we will cultivate a culture of absolute integrity and zero tolerance to corruption.”
He argued that Parliament could not effectively oversee public institutions if lawmakers failed to maintain high ethical standards internally.
“Charity begins at home,” he said. “We cannot hide from accountability of government resources, yet we expect it from other agencies and departments.”
Oboth-Oboth further pledged to improve the quality of debate on the floor of Parliament, criticizing what he described as hearsay and grandstanding in legislative discussions.
“Under my leadership, the floor of Parliament will not be a theater for hearsay or grandstanding,” he said. “Our debates must be grounded in hard facts, data, and sound research.”
He also promised to strengthen committee oversight so that Parliament detects and prevents misuse of public resources before scandals emerge.
“We need not wait for public funds to be lost,” he said. “Our committees should be facilitated to monitor, intercept, and protect resources in real time.”
As he concluded his address, Oboth-Oboth appealed for unity, humility, and cooperation among MPs and parliamentary staff as Parliament embarks on what he described as a new chapter.
“I will remain the same Oboth-Oboth, not changed by the grandeur or majesty of the powerful office of the Speaker,” he said.
“Let us serve all Ugandans with respect and honour.”
