From Tororo Rurals to Speaker’s Chair: The Rise of Oboth to head Uganda’s Parliament

KAMPALA, Uganda: From a humble upbringing in Tororo to occupying the third-highest office in Uganda’s order of precedence, Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth’s rise to the Speakership is viewed as a story of patience, resilience and calculated political survival.

At 55, the West Budama Central legislator officially assumed the office of Speaker of the 12th Parliament on Monday, May 25, after securing 441 votes out of 519 ballots cast during Monday’s parliamentary election at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

For many within political and legal circles, Oboth’s victory marked the climax of a long and often frustrating political journey that saw him twice passed over by his own party before eventually clinching the coveted position.

Now entrusted with presiding over Uganda’s Legislature, the arm of government responsible for making laws and holding the Executive accountable, Oboth enters office at a time when Parliament faces mounting public criticism over corruption allegations, excessive spending and weakened oversight.

Yet colleagues who have worked closely with him describe him as disciplined, approachable and deeply knowledgeable in legal and parliamentary matters.

“He is serious with his work, and he gives good direction. He is very knowledgeable about the law. He is humorous and has his way around members. Even then, he will meet his targets,” said Robina Gureme Rwakoojo, who deputised him on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

Who is Jacob Marksons Oboth?

Born and raised in Tororo District, Oboth rose from what associates describe as a difficult childhood to become a lawyer, legislator and later a senior government minister.

He studied law at Makerere University before obtaining a postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre. He later pursued a Master’s degree in election and cyber law at the University of Minnesota in the United States and also obtained a Certificate in Management from the Uganda Management Institute.

Before joining elective politics, Oboth worked as a State Attorney in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs based in Mbale and also served as deputy attorney general of the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution.

His political breakthrough came in 2011 when he defeated then State Minister for Labour, Dr Emmanuel Otaala, to win the West Budama South parliamentary seat.

He went on to become the first legislator since 1996 to secure two consecutive terms in the constituency before later shifting to the newly created West Budama Central constituency in the 2026 elections.

For much of his early parliamentary career, Oboth served as an Independent MP while maintaining close working ties with the ruling National Resistance Movement government.

That balancing act often attracted suspicion from both government loyalists and Opposition figures, although he consistently defended his approach as objective and issue-based politics.

His influence within Parliament steadily grew through committee leadership positions. In the 9th Parliament, he chaired the Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges before later heading the influential Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee in the 10th Parliament.

However, one of the defining moments of his political career came in 2017 when he spearheaded the parliamentary committee process that endorsed the removal of the presidential age limit under Article 102(b) of the Constitution, a controversial amendment that allowed President Museveni to seek office beyond the age of 75.

While many politicians associated with the amendment lost political support in the 2021 elections, Oboth survived the backlash and formally joined the NRM ahead of the polls.

His ambition for parliamentary leadership became clearer in 2021 when he first contested for Deputy Speaker but later stepped aside after the party endorsed Anita Annet Among.

Following the death of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah in 2022, Oboth again sought the Speakership, but the NRM instead backed Among and Thomas Tayebwa.

Rather than retreat politically, Oboth was appointed State Minister for General Duties in the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs before later being elevated to full minister in 2024.

It was during his time at the Defence ministry that his relationship with Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba and the Patriotic League of Uganda became more visible.

In 2024, Gen Muhoozi attended Oboth’s thanksgiving ceremony in Tororo and publicly praised him for his flexibility and working relationship with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.

“He is the best minister we have had,” Muhoozi later posted on his X handle as he backed Oboth’s Speakership bid earlier this month, an endorsement that proved politically decisive.

With such backing from PLU and later endorsement from the NRM Central Executive Committee, Oboth entered the Speakership race with significant momentum, eventually sweeping aside his challengers with a commanding victory.

Vice President Jessica Alupo, while nominating him, described Oboth as a leader with deep understanding of constitutional governance, parliamentary procedure and conflict resolution. His seconder, Frank Tumwebaze, praised him as fair, emotionally intelligent and decisive enough to steer Parliament through difficult political moments.

What lies ahead for Oboth

But beyond the praise, Oboth now faces arguably the toughest assignment of his political life.

The 12th Parliament begins under heavy public scrutiny following corruption allegations and accusations that the previous House had become overly submissive to the Executive.

Mindful of that pressure, Oboth used his maiden speech as Speaker to pledge reforms anchored on accountability, integrity and oversight.

“I pledge a corruption-free Parliament. Under my leadership, we will cultivate a culture of absolute integrity and zero tolerance to corruption,” Oboth said shortly after assuming office. “Accountability begins with us. In the next five years, we will hold the Executive and other government bodies accountable.”