Democratic Party president general Norbert Mao has garnered 15 votes in the election for Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, in a contest dominated by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The race was won by Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, who secured a decisive majority backed by the NRM’s parliamentary strength, while Mao and National Unity Platform candidate Paul Mwiru trailed in the tightly managed vote.
A total of 519 ballots were cast, with no abstentions recorded and three ballots declared invalid during counting, marking full participation in one of the first major leadership decisions of the new Parliament.
Mao’s 15-vote outcome reflects the numerical realities of Uganda’s current parliamentary balance, where opposition candidates face significant constraints in leadership contests due to the ruling party’s overwhelming majority.
The Speaker of Parliament is a powerful constitutional office responsible for presiding over sittings, maintaining order in the House, and steering legislative business, making the position central to the functioning of Uganda’s legislature.
Following the conclusion of the Speakership race, Parliament is expected to proceed with the election of the Deputy Speaker and the formation of committees that will shape the legislative agenda of the 12th Parliament.
