Norbert Mao Throws His Hat in the Ring: “This Speaker Job Belongs to Parliament, Not Any Party”

Kampala is buzzing again. Yesterday morning, Justice Minister and Democratic Party boss Norbert Mao stood up at his party headquarters and did what many have been whispering about for weeks he officially declared he wants to be the next Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament.

Mao, who just won the Laroo-Pece seat in Gulu, didn’t mince words. He told journalists the position isn’t some NRM family property; it belongs to the entire House. “Every MP is qualified, just like every cardinal can become Pope,” he said with a smile.

This is a direct shot at the ruling party’s plan to keep Anita Among as Speaker and Thomas Tayebwa as her deputy. The NRM bigwigs already endorsed them last month at State House. But because the Speaker is chosen by secret ballot in May, Mao believes there’s real room for an upset.

What’s his pitch? Fight the cancer of corruption that’s eating public money, bring back dignity to Parliament, and make sure the Executive doesn’t keep treating the House like its junior brother. He even called Among an “accidental Speaker” and said Ugandans deserve someone who was deliberately chosen.

Whether you love him or not, Mao just made the race interesting. For the first time in years, the speakership contest actually feels like a contest