KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s 12th Parliament opened Monday at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds with lawmakers electing Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth as Speaker and returning Thomas Tayebwa as Deputy Speaker, cementing the ruling National Resistance Movement’s dominance in the new House.
The inaugural sitting followed the January 2026 general elections that produced a 527 member Parliament. Proceedings began with a proclamation by the Clerk to Parliament, while Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija presided over the election of the Speaker in the presence of President Yoweri Museveni.
Oboth-Oboth, the West Budama Central legislator, was nominated by Vice President Jessica Alupo and seconded by Minister Frank Tumwebaze. He faced competition from Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru, backed by the National Unity Platform, and Democratic Party president Norbert Mao.
In the secret ballot vote, Oboth-Oboth secured a decisive victory after polling 441 of the 519 votes cast. Mwiru received 60 votes, while Mao garnered 15. Three ballots were declared invalid. Chief Justice Zeija subsequently declared Oboth-Oboth duly elected Speaker of the 12th Parliament.
The newly elected Speaker was escorted to the chair by former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja before taking the oath of office. He was handed the ceremonial mace, the Constitution, the coat of arms and the Speaker’s robes in a symbolic transfer of authority.
In his maiden speech, Oboth-Oboth pledged to lead a “corruption free Parliament” and called for accountability, evidence based debate and stronger committee oversight.
“The Speaker’s chair is not a throne,” he told legislators, while outlining what he described as seven pillars that would guide his leadership. He also emphasized ethical engagement with the media and a people centered approach to legislation.
Oboth-Oboth, a lawyer and former Defence minister, first entered Parliament in 2011 as an independent before later aligning with the NRM. He credited his rise to leadership to “God’s timing” and thanked both the NRM and the Patriotic League of Uganda for backing his candidature.
Shortly after his election, Oboth-Oboth presided over the vote for Deputy Speaker, where incumbent Thomas Tayebwa retained the position. Tayebwa, the Ruhinda North MP, defeated several challengers, including women legislators who had campaigned for gender balance in the leadership of Parliament.
In his acceptance speech, Tayebwa pledged to work across political divides and support the new Speaker in strengthening parliamentary oversight and democratic governance.
“We may differ politically, but we share a common goal of fighting poverty and improving the lives of Ugandans,” Tayebwa said as he extended an olive branch to opposition lawmakers.
The elections mark the beginning of a new parliamentary term following the tenure of the 11th Parliament led by former Speaker Anita Among and Tayebwa as Deputy Speaker. Among neither contested nor attended the sitting amid reports of internal political tensions within the ruling establishment.
Political observers say the election of Oboth-Oboth signals continuity in Parliament’s leadership while presenting a new face at the helm of the legislative arm of government. The House is expected to begin forming committees and handling substantive legislative business in the coming weeks.
