Kampala, Uganda: West Budama Central Member of Parliament, Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth, has distanced himself from reports that he has been endorsed for the position of Speaker of Parliament by Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba, saying he was unaware of the endorsement because he is not active on social media.
Speaking to journalists at Parliament shortly after taking his legislative oath on Friday morning, Oboth appeared surprised when asked about Muhoozi’s widely discussed posts backing him for the powerful parliamentary position.
“I’m not aware,” Oboth told reporters when asked about the endorsement.
The legislator, who also serves as State Minister for Defence in the outgoing cabinet, said he had not seen the social media posts because he does not personally follow online political discussions. “I’m not on social media,” he said during the exchange.
Oboth’s remarks come barely hours after Gen Muhoozi publicly endorsed him as his preferred candidate for Speaker of the 12th Parliament, describing him as “the best minister” in government over the past five years.
“He has been the best Minister in our government for the past 5 years. I want to be the first to endorse him for Speaker of Parliament (2026-2031),” Muhoozi said via X on Friday morning.
The army chief’s endorsement has since intensified political debate around the increasingly dramatic Speakership race, especially after the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) withdrew its earlier backing for incumbent Speaker Anita Annet Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.
However, Oboth’s reaction is likely to further fuel speculation over whether formal consultations within the ruling National Resistance Movement establishment are still ongoing ahead of the official party position on the Speakership contest.
By press time, the NRM Secretariat and the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) had not yet issued any formal communication regarding the preferred candidate for Speaker.
But political insiders close to the power corridors at Plot 1 (State House), say the candidate eventually backed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the ruling party is expected to be presented before the NRM Parliamentary Caucus before elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker on May 25.
The Speakership contest has attracted growing public attention amid reports of internal divisions, lobbying and shifting alliances within the ruling establishment ahead of the first sitting of the 12th Parliament.
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