Uganda’s 12th Parliament officially has a new Speaker. Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, popularly known as Jacob Oboth-Oboth, secured a landslide victory with 441 votes out of 519 cast during the first sitting of Parliament held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. The veteran lawyer, legislator, and former defense minister now assumes leadership of Uganda’s legislative arm at a critical political moment for the country.

Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth has officially been elected Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament after defeating opposition candidates in a decisive vote held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.

Oboth-Oboth secured 441 votes out of 519 cast in an election presided over by Chief Justice Flavian Zeija under the watch of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

He defeated Paul Mwiru of the National Unity Platform, who garnered 60 votes, and Norbert Mao of the Democratic Party, who secured 15 votes. Three ballots were spoiled.

Moments after his victory, Oboth-Oboth was ceremonially escorted by fellow legislators before taking the oath of office administered by President Museveni in line with parliamentary tradition and constitutional procedure.

Born on April 13, 1971, Oboth-Oboth is a lawyer, intellectual property expert, and seasoned politician affiliated with the ruling National Resistance Movement.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre, and later pursued a master's degree in election and cyber law at the University of Minnesota.

Before joining active politics, Oboth-Oboth served as Deputy Attorney General for the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution and later worked as a State Attorney in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs based in Mbale.

He joined elective politics in 2011, winning the West Budama South parliamentary seat as an independent candidate after defeating former Labour Minister Dr. Emmanuel Otaala.

He later joined the NRM and successfully retained the seat in subsequent elections, becoming one of the most influential legislators in Parliament.

Throughout his parliamentary career, Oboth-Oboth has chaired several key committees, including the Committee on Rules, Discipline, and Privileges; the Committee on Natural Resources; and the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

He also served as State Minister for Defense in charge of General Duties and played a major role in handling several government legislative proposals.

Political analysts say his legal background, parliamentary experience, and strong backing from the ruling NRM caucus greatly strengthened his path to the speakership.

Prior to the election, Oboth-Oboth had received endorsements from senior ruling party figures, including the NRM Central Executive Committee and Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

With the 12th Parliament now fully constituted, attention shifts to the new leadership’s ability to steer legislation, strengthen accountability, and respond to growing public expectations over governance and service delivery.