KAMPALA UGANDA: 20 October 2026— Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has stepped in to quell growing anxiety among parliamentary staff as a sweeping validation exercise enters its second day.
Addressing rumors of panic and job security fears, Oboth dismissed reports of tension within the August House, declaring that the exercise is designed to restore meritocracy, integrity, and morale—not to push staff out of their jobs.
“There is no panic. There’s bliss!” Oboth stated. “It is not the interest of the new leadership of Parliament to see anyone lose a job. The nation should not overthink this. Everyone should take it easy and keep serving.”
“If You Call Yourself a Senior, Prove It”
At the center of the staff validation is a drive to eliminate rank inflation, nepotism, and unmerited promotions within the Parliamentary Service. Oboth emphasized that under the new leadership, job titles must match real qualifications and experience.
“What we are doing is a simple exercise of restoring morale, integrity, and sanity in the parliamentary service,” Oboth noted. “When you are called a senior, you should actually be a senior. When you are a principal, you should actually be a principal. You can become a director whether you joined in 2024 or 2026, but it must come with the right qualifications and experience.”
“No Godfathers Needed”
To ensure full transparency and prevent allegations of an internal witch-hunt, Oboth revealed that he requested support from the Head of Public Service to oversee the audit independently.
Invoking his own career journey, the Speaker reminded staff that hard work and capability—rather than political connections—should drive career growth.
“I grew up through merit. I did interviews from the entry point and was shortlisted among many. I had no godparent in public service—God was, instead, my parent,” he shared. “Think of public service as a race. Everyone should begin from the same starting line and run fairly to the finish.”
As the validation continues, the Speaker has appealed for patience and calm, urging all parliamentary staff to go about their daily work without fear.
