TAKEAWAYS

• Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth asked Ugandans to pray for him, saying he fears no alleged witchcraft because God is greater.
• He said he is “pregnant with change” and wants his leadership to leave a lasting mark through reforms, roads, hospitals and cleaner governance.
• The Speaker also warned that those who resort to witchcraft against him would fail, insisting that God would take vengeance on his behalf while he focuses on fighting corruption and transforming Parliament.

The Speaker of Parliament Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth has asked Ugandans to keep him in prayer as he begins his tenure, declaring that his faith in God is stronger than any alleged witchcraft associated with Parliament and expressing confidence that he will deliver lasting reforms.

Speaking to a local audience, Oboth-Oboth said he is embarking on a mission to transform Parliament into an institution that delivers tangible results for Ugandans. In a light-hearted but symbolic remark, he described himself as “pregnant with change,” saying the vision he carries must be brought to life during his leadership.

“Everybody says there is witchcraft in Parliament, but I know somebody who is above witchcraft. The God that I believe in cannot make a woman pregnant and fail to give her the strength to push the baby. So I am now pregnant with some changes for Parliament. Pray that these things come to pass so that Parliament will have a lasting impact.”

The Speaker said he wants his tenure to be remembered for advancing Uganda’s development, adding that future generations should look back and say his leadership made a real contribution to building the country.

He also warned those he believes engage in witchcraft against him, insisting that God would defend him and that previous attempts to harm him had failed.

“Those who are involved in witchcraft had better stop because God is the one who takes vengeance on my side. If they continue, they will fail as others have failed miserably. There must be a change. I want to see roads, hospitals and transformation. Otherwise, why would I be Speaker and leave things exactly the way I found them?”

Oboth-Oboth further linked his vision for Parliament to the fight against corruption, saying the problem cannot be defeated at the national level without first addressing unethical practices in local governments. He criticized reports of bribery in public recruitment and called for integrity from the grassroots to the highest offices of government.

Allegations of witchcraft within Uganda’s Parliament are not new. Over the years, stories have repeatedly circulated about lawmakers fearing supernatural attacks and poisoning. This has made the subject one of the institution’s most persistent political myths.