KAMPALA, Uganda — All National Resistance Movement (NRM) aspirants for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament have reportedly withdrawn from the race in a major political consolidation ahead of the 12th Parliament leadership elections.
The move effectively clears the path for West Budama Central Member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Oboth-Oboth as the ruling party’s preferred candidate for Speaker, while Ruhinda North MP Thomas Tayebwa is now set to retain his position as Deputy Speaker.
The development follows a decisive NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) position that endorsed Oboth-Oboth and Tayebwa as the party’s official flag bearers for the two top parliamentary offices, effectively shaping the internal race ahead of the vote scheduled for May 25, 2026.
According to party insiders and reports from the caucus process, rival aspirants within the NRM fold have stepped down in line with party discipline and the expectation that the CEC endorsement be respected during caucus alignment.
The NRM Parliamentary Caucus is expected to formally endorse the CEC decision before the election of the Speaker, which will be presided over by Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija. The newly elected Speaker will then oversee the election of the Deputy Speaker.
Jacob Oboth-Oboth, who currently serves as Minister of Defence and chairperson of Parliament’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, has increasingly been positioned as the ruling party’s unified choice for Speaker.
Thomas Tayebwa, who has served as Deputy Speaker since 2022, is widely expected to retain the position following the party’s endorsement, reinforcing continuity in parliamentary leadership.
Political observers say the consolidation reflects a strategic effort by the ruling party to avoid internal contestation ahead of the swearing-in of the 12th Parliament and to present a unified front in controlling legislative leadership.
The NRM endorsement is also seen as part of broader internal balancing within the ruling party, factoring in regional representation, loyalty, parliamentary experience, and political reliability.
Oboth-Oboth, a seasoned legislator and legal expert, has risen through key parliamentary committees, while Tayebwa has played a central role in government business coordination in the House.
Their joint ticket is expected to sail through given the numerical dominance of the NRM in Parliament, which historically determines leadership outcomes in the House.
With internal party competition effectively neutralised, attention now shifts to the formal parliamentary sitting where MPs will vote to confirm the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
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The election will determine the leadership of Uganda’s 12th Parliament, a position that holds significant influence over legislative agenda setting, oversight of government, and parliamentary administration.
The Speaker remains one of the most powerful constitutional offices in Uganda, ranking third in national protocol after the President and Vice President.
The withdrawal of competing NRM aspirants signals a rare moment of internal alignment in a party often characterised by intense competition for top positions.
As the House prepares for the decisive vote, Oboth-Oboth and Tayebwa now stand as the dominant figures in a leadership transition that will shape parliamentary direction for the next five years.
