Martin Kayanja, the ex-husband of Beatrice Mao, who is currently the official wife of Norbert Mao, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, has appealed to members of the 12th Parliament to consider an individual with a good corruption record to preside over the next Parliament.

According to Kayanja, the speaker’s seat is one of the most important political positions in Uganda, adding that it deserves a person with outstanding character, a patriot who can uphold the integrity of the institution.

Kayanja made the remarks on Thursday, May 14th, 2026, while speaking to journalists at Speke Hotel in Kampala.

“I believe those who are elected into those top government positions should be of good ethics and integrity and be people who understand family values and are responsible for the actions they take. I have a big passion for Uganda, which is why I wanted to start the East African European Convention to bring together all East Africans living in the diaspora. Still, unfortunately, it did not materialize,” Kayanja said.

He further revealed that he had also initiated a program that coordinates people abroad who would wish to offer services to Ugandans when they come back home, stating that he is working with the current Speaker, Anita Annet Among, to materialize it.

“We people in the diaspora have a lot of time when we come back to Uganda for a holiday. I am a statistician by profession, and I come to offer free services for Uganda and its friends, mainly those who are doctors or lawyers who would wish to offer services but don’t know how to do it,” Kayanja noted.

Kayanja added that, fortunately, the speaker has taken an interest in it, and he thinks it will continue and materialize when she is elected again as speaker for the next parliament.

“I am saying this because I want people in public offices who have integrity and ethics and don’t abuse public offices to propagate corruption. I appeal to members of parliament who are going to vote for the new speaker to consider people with a good ethical background,” he added.

His appeal has come at a time when the newly elected members of parliament are set to vote for candidates who expressed interest in speakership for the 12th parliament, including Norbert Mao on May 25th, 2026.

Beatrice Kayanja began separating from her ex-husband, Martin Kayanja, in 2020 when she left London to return to Kampala. The marital rift escalated publicly in December 2020, when Kayanja publicly accused Democratic Party president Mao of interfering in their marriage.

However, the separation was formally finalized through legal proceedings after Beatrice filed a divorce petition, leading to their absolute separation in 2021/2022. Following the split, Beatrice went on to officially marry Mao in mid-2024.