The Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has thrown the spanner in works after endorsed West Budama Central MP Jackson Oboth-Oboth for the position of Speaker of Parliament.
This come ahead of the May 25, 2026 election for the leadership of the 12th Parliament.
In a post on his X, Gen Muhoozi praised Oboth-Oboth, saying he’s been the best Minister for the last term.
“He has been the best Minister in our government for the past 5 years. I want to be the first to endorse him for Speaker of Parliament (2026-2031). God bless Hon. Oboth-Oboth!,” he wrote.
Muhoozi also endorsed Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa to retain his seat, describing him as “a very good man.”
“Hon. Tayebwa is a very good man. He is my younger brother. He has no problems. He is protected,” Muhoozi said.
The endorsement comes just days after the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a group associated with Muhoozi, withdrew its earlier backing of outgoing Speaker Anita Among and Tayebwa.
On May 12, PLU announced that it would instead support whoever is endorsed by President Yoweri Museveni.
It remains unclear whether Muhoozi’s latest endorsement reflects the President’s final position on the Speakership race.
Earlier this year, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee had endorsed Among and Tayebwa for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions, a move that drew mixed reactions among party supporters.
Oboth-Oboth now joins a growing list of figures linked to the Speakership race, including Anita Among, Norbert Mao, Persis Namuganza, Florence Asiimwe Akiiki and Lydia Wanyoto.
The biggest question now remains whether Anita Among will still contest if she is not officially fronted by the NRM Central Executive Committee.
