TOP STORY: Who Is Jacob Oboth-Oboth the News Speaker of Parliament

First endorsed by Muhoozi Keinerugaba the Chief of Defence Forces and later by the Central Executive Committee the Apex organ of the NRM party and by the 12th NRM Parliamentary Caucus, West Budama Central MP Marksons Jacob Oboth has been voted as the Speaker of the 12th parliament until 2031.

Born on April 13, 1971, in Tororo District in Eastern Uganda, Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth grew up in a modest Anglican family and endured a difficult childhood marked by financial hardship just like many rural families do.

Many of his associates describe him as a humble and down to earth whose traits of struggle growing up shaped his character. As a young boy, he took on several odd jobs to survive, including fetching water and working as a store keeper. He attended Muwafu primary School in Tororo District before joining St. Denis Ssebugwawo Secondary School in Ggaba, Makindye Division in Kampala for his O-level education.

Oboth Oboth was at some point in life reportedly forced out of school because of financial difficulties and unpaid fees, he would later be supported by the American Missionaries in Tororo where he worked for nearly two years while trying to rebuild his education journey. He later joined Tororo High School for his A-level studies before being admitted to Makerere University in 1997 to pursue a Law Degree.

Academic And Legal Career: The new Speaker Oboth-Oboth graduated with a Bachelor of Law Degree in 2001 before obtaining a postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre in 2002. He undertook specialized studies in Intellectual Property and Public procurement under the International Law Development Organization.

In 2007, he graduated with a Master of Laws Degree in Election and Cyber Law from the University of Minnesota. Before joining Elective politics, Oboth- Oboth worked as a State Attorney under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and also served as Deputy Attorney General for the Tieng Adhola Cultura Institution in Tororo where he hails from. He also worked at the Mbale regional office before traveling to the US for further studies.

Rise in Politics: Upon returning in Uganda in 2007, the new Speaker resumed his government job with the Ministry of Justice before resigning in 2010 to join active politics. Political observers say his humble background and grassroots mobilization help him connect with ordinary voters in the then West Budama South Constituency Currently West Budama Central.

He contested as an independent candidate in 2011 and defeated the then State Minister for Labour Dr. Emmanuel Otaala to become MP for West Budama South. He successfully retained the seat in 2016 becoming the first legislator in the constituency to win a re-election consecutively since 1996.

Oboth-Oboth has built a reputation as an experienced parliamentary figure, serving on several influential committee. He previously chaired the Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges, the Committee on Natural Resources and an adhoc parliamentary committee that investigated Uganda’s electricity sub-sector.

Before being appointed as Minister of Defence and Veteran affairs in the term which ended last week, Oboth Oboth also chaired the legal and parliamentary affairs Committee in 2017 which processed the removal of the age limit in the Constitution of Uganda. He sleeps in Mukono and analysts say despite having army and police escorts, he calmly waits with other motorists in the jam without inconveniencing others.

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