Politics 20 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Speaker Oboth Assures Parliament Staff Amidst Validation Exercise
Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth has reassured parliamentary staff that the ongoing validation exercise is a routine process aimed at restoring integrity and meritocracy, not a witch-hunt. The exercise includes a physical headcount and document verification to address administrative mismatches and weed out irregularities. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/speaker-oboth-assures-parliament-staff-as-commission-rolls-out-validation-exercise-to-weed-out-irregularities-5639162
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has moved to quell anxieties among parliamentary staff concerning the ongoing validation exercise, emphasizing that the initiative is designed to foster integrity, meritocracy, and morale within the institution. Addressing concerns through his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Oboth clarified that the process, which involves a physical headcount and verification of credentials, is not intended to lead to job losses.
“There is no panic. There’s bliss!” Speaker Oboth stated, noting his request for assistance from the Head of Public Service to ensure fairness and transparency. He stressed that the new leadership’s priority is not to dismiss employees but to “restore morale, integrity and sanity in the parliamentary service.”
The two-week exercise, chaired by Commissioner of Parliament Susan Abeja, aims to correct administrative mismatches and eliminate forged credentials. Abeja explained that while employees with fake qualifications will be dismissed, those with genuine qualifications or who received accelerated promotions will be redeployed to suitable positions. “We really want harmony in the workplace. A junior person working on top of a senior person demoralises,” she stated.
This validation comes after the 11th Parliament faced public criticism regarding alleged recruitment irregularities, abuse of office, and financial misconduct. The exercise will also help identify potential ghost workers and confirm the accuracy of the current staff count of 826 against an approved structure of 906 positions.
Parliamentary Commissioner John Baptist Nambeshe supported the initiative, stating that the new leadership inherited significant staffing challenges that require immediate correction to establish a “new factory setting.”