Newly elected Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Markson Oboth-Oboth, has pledged to restore a transparent and open relationship between Parliament and the media.
In his maiden speech on Monday, during a special sitting, Speaker Oboth-Oboth vowed to maintain an open parliament for media.
“Appreciate that an objective and ethical media are not our enemies, but the public’s eye and ear. We must maintain a transparent, decent, and open parliament. When we close our doors to the media, a negative perception is generated. If we are clean and doing a good job, why hide?”
He promised that under his leadership, Parliament would encourage a robust relationship with the media.
“professional and robust relationship with the press at all times in order to bridge the gap between the house and our people,” he said.
The pledge comes after a strained media relationship in the 11th Parliament under former Speaker Anita Among, when media houses including NTV, Daily Monitor, and Spark TV were banned from covering proceedings without clear reasons.
Some journalists were also barred from entering Parliament, prompting boycotts during certain sittings.
Oboth-Oboth also committed to accountability and integrity, stressing that parliamentary oversight must begin with its members.
“Accountability begins with us. In the next five years, we will hold the executive and other government bodies accountable, but we must start with ourselves,” he said.
He urged MPs to serve the people with humility and fairness, promising a Parliament that is open, transparent, and citizen-focused.
Jacob Markson Oboth-Oboth was on Monday elected Speaker of the 12th Parliament, replacing Anita Among, whose tenure ended amid a corruption probe.
He garnered 441 votes, defeating NUP’s Paul Mwiru, who received 60 votes, and Nobert Mao, who secured 15 votes, with three votes declared invalid.
Oboth-Oboth will be deputized by Thomas Tayebwa, who was re-elected Deputy Speaker with 457 votes.
