Uganda’s Parliament has elected ruling party politician Jacob Oboth-Oboth as the country’s new Speaker after a decisive vote that ended the controversial tenure of outgoing Speaker Anita Among.
Oboth, a senior member of President Yoweri Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), won the position with 441 votes during Monday’s parliamentary sitting in Kampala.
He defeated opposition candidate Paul Mwiru of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who received 60 votes, and Norbert Mao of the Democratic Party (DP), who secured 15 votes.
Anita Among, who had served as Speaker since 2022 following the death of former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, did not take part in the vote.
Her exit follows weeks of political tension and growing pressure inside Uganda’s ruling establishment after she became linked to serious corruption and abuse-of-office allegations. Recent reports said some of her luxury assets were also being investigated as part of broader corruption probes.
Oboth’s rise had already gained momentum in recent weeks after receiving backing from influential figures within the ruling party, including Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The new Speaker previously served as State Minister for Defence and has long been viewed as a close ally of the NRM leadership. Political observers in Uganda say his election signals a fresh power arrangement inside Parliament ahead of another politically sensitive term under Museveni’s government.
Oboth now takes over one of Uganda’s most influential constitutional offices at a time when Parliament remains sharply divided over governance, corruption claims, opposition crackdowns, and succession politics surrounding Museveni’s long rule.
Analysts also say the transition could reshape internal dynamics within the NRM, especially after divisions emerged over Anita Among’s leadership style and growing political influence in recent
