Speaker Oboth Urges Accountability Committees to Focus on Public Trust, Not Witch Hunts

During a two-day induction for public accounts committees in Entebbe, Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to approach their oversight duties with integrity and a focus on public service. He stressed that the role of these committees is not to target individuals or engage in political rivalries, but rather to ensure public confidence in the equitable use of government funds.

“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 stated.

The Speaker highlighted the importance of fairness, independence, professionalism, and timeliness in the committees’ work. He advised that their effectiveness should be judged by improvements in public service delivery, not merely by the volume of reports generated or the number of people summoned.

Oboth further cautioned that delays in accountability can significantly weaken Parliament’s oversight capacity. He called for all findings to be based on solid evidence and free from undue political influence. The integrity of the MPs themselves, he noted, mirrors the standards expected of public officials.

“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 reminded the attendees. Unresolved audit queries, he added, often have a direct negative impact on the quality of services provided to citizens.

Source: Parliament of Uganda