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Uganda’s newly elected parliament speaker, Jacob Oboth-Oboth, pledged on Monday to completely eradicate corruption within the legislative body.
The former defence and veterans affairs minister secured a decisive majority vote to succeed his once-powerful predecessor, Anita Among, whose sudden downfall over massive graft allegations has stunned the East African nation.
The leadership transition follows a dramatic anti-corruption crackdown on the outgoing speaker.
Security sources reveal that Among has been confined to her home in Kampala after an extensive corruption investigation resulted in her offices being searched and her collection of luxury vehicles—including a personalised Rolls-Royce—being confiscated.
Observers widely view her removal as a reflection of the military’s tightening grip on power in Uganda.
Addressing lawmakers immediately after his victory, Oboth-Oboth promised a clean break from the institutional misconduct of the past.
He stated that his leadership would cultivate a strict culture of integrity, emphasising that accountability must begin with the members of parliament themselves.
Despite his public anti-graft stance, the new speaker’s appointment has raised eyebrows due to his political alliances and past controversies.
Oboth-Oboth is known to be a close ally of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba—the army chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni—who actively backed his nomination.
Furthermore, the new speaker was previously linked to a high-profile scandal involving the theft of iron roofing sheets meant for low-cost housing. However, he was eventually cleared of wrongdoing.
Graft remains a systemic crisis in Uganda, where prosecuting high-ranking government officials has historically been rare.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge awaiting the new legislative leadership, the country currently ranks 148th out of 182 nations on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
