Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has ignited fresh debate over accountability in Uganda after posing thought-provoking questions during a meeting with the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC).
While addressing members of the committee, Oboth challenged the country’s oversight system by asking who keeps the watchdogs in check.
“Who audits the Auditor General, and who holds Members of Parliament accountable?” he asked.
His remarks quickly caught the attention of many Ugandans, with the questions prompting discussions on social media and among governance experts about whether the country’s accountability institutions are themselves subject to enough scrutiny.
The Parliamentary Accounts Committee is responsible for examining how public funds are spent using reports from the Auditor General. However, the Speaker’s comments shifted the focus to a broader issue—whether those entrusted with overseeing public institutions are also being effectively monitored.
Many observers say the questions raise an important conversation about transparency and responsibility in public office. They argue that for accountability systems to earn public trust, every institution, including oversight bodies and elected leaders, should be answerable for its actions.
Although Oboth did not provide direct answers to the questions, his remarks have reignited calls for stronger checks and balances to ensure that no public office is beyond scrutiny.
