Uganda: Speaker warns against using oversight committees to witch-hunt individuals

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The Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth has called on Members of Parliament serving on public accounts committees to approach oversight as a duty to safeguard citizens' trust rather than a platform for political score-settling.

"Your duty is not to hunt individuals nor to settle political scores. Your duty is to restore public confidence that government resources are used for the purposes approved by Parliament," Oboth said.

The Speaker made the remarks while closing a two-day induction for the public accounts committees at Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe, on Friday, 24 July 2026.

He outlined the principles of  fairness, independence, professionalism and timeliness emphasising that their success should be measured by improved public service delivery rather than the number of reports produced or witnesses summoned.

Oboth stressed that delayed accountability undermines Parliament's oversight role and called for findings grounded on evidence, free from political influence.

The Speaker also urged Parliament to uphold the same standards of integrity it expects from public officials noting that unresolved audit queries often translate into poor service delivery.

"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 said.

Public Accounts Committees are central to Parliament's oversight function, examining government expenditure and audit reports to ensure public funds are used for their intended purposes.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.