KAMPALA — Laroo-Pece Division MP-elect and Justice Minister Norbert Mao has formally declared his bid for the Speakership of Uganda’s 12th Parliament, saying he is ready to contest for the top legislative position after conducting wide consultations.
Mao said he believes he is fully qualified for the role and does not see the need for an elaborate campaign.
“I have concluded extensive consultations and I am ready to offer myself for the position of Speaker,” Mao said, adding that his experience in public service and legal affairs positions him well to preside over Parliament.
According to Mao, when Uganda lost the late Jacob Oulanyah, it got an accidental Speaker (Anita Among).
“When Oulanyah passed on, Uganda found itself with what I would call an accidental Speaker. It was not by design but by circumstance,” Mao added, reflecting on the political manoeuvres that followed Oulanyah’s untimely death in March 2022 while receiving treatment abroad.
He stressed that, if elected, he would prioritise accountability and integrity in the House.
“I wonder what my friend Jacob Oulanyah would tell me if I met him on the other side of life and he says, ‘Mao, I left you behind. You have seen what is happening, and you did nothing,’” Mao remarked, invoking the legacy of the late former Speaker.
Mao also reflected on the role of legislative institutions in democratic systems, drawing comparisons with other jurisdictions.
“The electoral system gives the lower house proportional representation, while the upper house balances regions with stricter qualifications, acting as a check like in the U.S., where the lower house impeaches and the upper house decides on removal,” he said.
The Justice Minister said his focus would be to strengthen Parliament’s oversight function, enhance debate quality, and ensure that the institution remains a pillar of constitutional governance.
The race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament is expected to attract significant political interest as Members of Parliament prepare to elect their presiding officer when the new House convenes.
