Oboth pledges corruption-free, people-centred parliament after landslide victory
The new Speaker also pledged to improve the quality of parliamentary debate by encouraging Members of Parliament to rely on research, facts and evidence while carrying out oversight responsibilities.
Newly elected Speaker of Parliament Jacob Markson Oboth Oboth has pledged to lead a corruption-free and people-centred Parliament following his overwhelming victory in the Speakership race.
Oboth secured 441 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Paul Mwiru, who garnered 60 votes, while Norbert Mao received 15 votes. Three ballots were spoilt.
Speaking shortly after being declared winner, Oboth promised to preside over a Parliament focused on delivering services to ordinary Ugandans and ensuring accountability in government spending.
“Every bill, every motion, every decision must directly answer to the needs of the ordinary citizen,” Oboth said.
He emphasized that national budgeting under his leadership would prioritize results and service delivery rather than what he described as “financial engineering and distortion.”
“Under my leadership, budgeting will no longer be an exercise in financial engineering and distortion. It will be a service-orientated, results-driven endeavour to deliver services to our people,” he said.
The new Speaker also pledged to improve the quality of parliamentary debate by encouraging Members of Parliament to rely on research, facts and evidence while carrying out oversight responsibilities.
“Under my leadership, the floor of Parliament will not be a theatre for hearsay or grandstanding. Our debates must be grounded in hard facts, data and sound research. We must be fair and objective to others as we play our oversight function,” he added.
Oboth further vowed to champion integrity and fight corruption within Parliament, saying the Speaker’s office should serve citizens rather than personal interests.
“The Speaker’s Chair is not a throne; it is a servant’s post,” he said.
“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 pledged to cultivate “a culture of absolute integrity and zero tolerance to corruption,” aligning himself with President Yoweri Museveni’s call for a corruption-free Parliament in the next five years.
Following his election, Oboth also called for nominations for the position of Deputy Speaker of Parliament in line with Rule 6(2) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which mandates the Speaker to preside over the election of the Deputy Speaker.
His victory marks the beginning of a new parliamentary leadership expected to steer legislative business, oversight and national budget discussions in the coming term.
