Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has said his decision to contest for the Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament was driven by concerns about the leadership of the Speaker’s office under former Speaker Anita Among.
Speaking about his bid, Mao argued that there had been growing criticism from civil society organizations, Members of Parliament, and opposition leaders regarding the management of the office.
“Civil society was making an alarm, MPs were making an alarm, and opposition leaders in Parliament were making an alarm. But the problem was the position of Speaker because that office was being abused. Someone needed to shake that chair,” Mao stated.
According to Mao, the concerns raised by various stakeholders made it necessary for someone to challenge the status quo and push for accountability within the institution.
His comments come after Anita Among withdrew from the speakership race in May 2026, paving the way for Jacob Oboth-Oboth to be elected Speaker of the 12th Parliament.
Mao maintains that his decision to seek the position was motivated by a desire to promote institutional accountability and address concerns that had been raised about the office.