Politics 27 July 2026 Howwe Entertainment
Speaker Oboth Urges Oversight Committees to Focus on Public Trust, Not Witch-hunts
Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth has cautioned Members of Parliament on public accounts committees against using their oversight roles for political retribution, emphasizing the importance of restoring public confidence in government resource management. Source: https://www.howwe.ug/news/national/43376/speaker-warns-against-using-oversight-committees-to-witch-hunt-individuals
Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth has issued a strong directive to Members of Parliament serving on public accounts committees, urging them to prioritize the safeguarding of public trust over personal or political agendas. He clarified that the core mandate of these committees is not to target individuals or engage in political point-scoring, but rather to ensure that government funds are utilized as intended and approved by Parliament.
These remarks were made during the closing session of a two-day induction program for the public accounts committees, held at the Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe on Friday, July 24, 2026. Speaker Oboth underscored several key principles for effective oversight, including fairness, independence, professionalism, and timeliness. He stressed that the true measure of success for these committees should be the tangible improvement in public service delivery, rather than the volume of reports generated or the number of individuals summoned.
Furthermore, Oboth highlighted the detrimental impact of delayed accountability, stating that it weakens Parliament’s crucial oversight function. He called for all findings and recommendations to be firmly rooted in evidence and shielded from undue political influence. The Speaker also reminded the committees to uphold the same high standards of integrity that are expected of public officials, noting that unresolved audit queries frequently lead to subpar service delivery for the citizens.
“When the people of Uganda entrust us with the responsibility to oversee their resources, what exactly are they placing in our hands? … They are placing in our hands their trust,” Oboth stated, underscoring the profound responsibility entrusted to these parliamentary bodies. Public Accounts Committees play a vital role in Parliament’s oversight mechanisms by scrutinizing government spending and audit reports to guarantee that public funds are allocated and used appropriately.