NRM CEC Foils Jacob Oboth Oboth and Thomas Tayebwa Informal Endorsement on Speakership Race, Calls For Expression of Interest.

By Abraham Lincolns | Kampala

The National Resistance Movement has foiled the PLU endorsement of Hon. Jabob Oboth Oboth and Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa as their candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament, instead directing interested members to formally express interest.

Leaving the succession race open and politically uncertain ahead of the next parliamentary term, the NRM has failed to endorse definite candidates for the positions in question but instead asked aspirants to first formally express interest in the posts following a Central Executive Committee meeting held at State House Entebbe chaired by President Museveni.

The decision effectively delays an expected internal endorsement that had been building around West Budama County South MP and former Defence Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth, whose name had circulated widely within party discussions as a potential successor to Anita Among.

Jacob Oboth Oboth had not officially declared interest in the Speakership prior to the meeting, even as his potential candidacy gained traction in political circles days after troubled former Speaker Anita Among withdrew from the race after allegations of corruption surrounded her office. His name had also been publicly referenced in political commentary, including a social media post attributed to Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, suggesting he had received backing from President Museveni, a claim now overtaken by the CEC’s decision to keep the process open.

Thomas Tayebwa, the former Deputy Speaker during the reign of Anita Annet Among, had also featured in earlier informal discussions around a possible leadership pairing for the next Parliament, but his prospects now remain subject to the same expression of interest process introduced by the party’s top decision-making organ.

The CEC directive means the succession race for both Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions remain wide open within the ruling party, requiring all interested members to submit applications rather than relying on internal endorsement or consensus candidates.

Democratic Party president Norbert Mao and Hon. Persis Namuganza, MP Bukono County and the former state minister for lands remains among those who have publicly indicated interest in the Speakership and is expected to be considered within the broader political discussions now that the NRM has opened the contest.

The outgoing speaker of Parliament Anet Anita Among who’s also the NRM National Vice Chairperson (Female) may not attend the meeting. Among remains subject of ongoing security operations at her properties amid allegations relating to corruption, abuse of office and illicit enrichment, developments that have intensified political speculation around the transition in parliamentary leadership.