The Democratic Party (DP) President General, Norbert Mao, has accused the National Resistance Movement (NRM) of violating the DP-NRM cooperation agreement by backing Jacob Markson Oboth Oboth as the next Speaker of Parliament instead of endorsing his candidature.
Mao made the remarks on May 19th, 2026, during a press conference held at the party headquarters on Balintuma Road in Kampala.
He said that the agreement remains fundamental and that DP has stayed faithful to its side while the NRM has chosen improvisation.
“The agreement we have is fundamental. We have been faithful to our part of the agreement. That is the reason why the president invited me to try first,” Mao said.
Mao referred to Oboth Oboth as “just an unintended project like Anita Among” and condemned the manner in which the endorsement was issued through a sudden directive from PLU leadership.
He maintained that the race for speakership should be determined through proper persuasion and processes within the NRM caucus instead of abrupt directives.
Mao further noted that maturity in leadership is not determined by age and insisted that his interest in the position is not driven by personal ambition but by the need to restore integrity to parliament and combat corruption.
He also appealed to all right-thinking MPs, especially those within the ruling party, to support his candidature based on the existing cooperation agreement, which he said advances unity, justice, and constitutionalism.
Mao urged Ugandans to hold their MPs accountable and resist every effort intended to turn parliament into an appendage of the State House.
He added that power must serve a defined purpose and that the country cannot permit improvisation in selecting parliamentary leadership.
The DP leader stated that he remains committed to the wider unity agenda and will continue engaging the NRM leadership in the spirit of the cooperation agreement.
Mao further noted that the final decision lies with the 12th Parliament but urged legislators to elect a speaker capable of leading with credibility at this important moment.
