Speaker Oboth warns against using oversight committees to witch-hunt individuals

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reported that Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth cautioned Members of Parliament on public accounts committees against turning oversight work into a tool for targeting individuals or settling political disputes. Speaking at the close of a two-day induction for the committees at Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe on Friday, 24 July 2026, Oboth said their role should be centred on protecting public trust and ensuring government resources are used as Parliament approved.

According to the report, Oboth urged committee members to observe fairness, independence, professionalism and timely action. He said the impact of their work should be judged less by the volume of reports issued or witnesses called, and more by whether oversight leads to better public service delivery. He also warned that delays in accountability weaken Parliament’s ability to oversee public spending effectively.

The Speaker further called for committee findings to be based on evidence and insulated from political pressure. Watchdog Uganda reported that he also reminded Parliament to live by the integrity standards it demands from public officials, noting that unresolved audit issues can be reflected in weak services for citizens.

Public accounts committees are a key part of parliamentary scrutiny, reviewing government expenditure and audit findings to determine whether public funds were spent for their intended purposes. The remarks matter because such committees can influence accountability across ministries, departments and agencies, but their credibility depends on procedures seen as fair, evidence-led and focused on the public interest.