KAMPALA — Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth has called for unity, discipline and strict accountability within the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), as Tingey County MP Fadil Twalla formally assumed office as Secretary General during a handover ceremony in Kampala.
The event at PLU headquarters marked a leadership transition from outgoing Secretary General David Kabanda, whom the Speaker credited with laying a strong foundation for the organisation since its establishment.
“Congratulations on your appointment as the new Secretary General,” Oboth-Oboth said. “I also want to thank Honourable Kabanda for being the first Secretary General of PLU. He set a strong foundation and did a good job.”
The Speaker said leadership transitions were a natural part of public service and should be embraced as part of institutional growth.
“In government, we must accept that there are those coming in and those coming out. That is how systems work,” he said.
Reflecting on his own political journey, Oboth said his rise to Speaker of Parliament was evidence of opportunity within Uganda’s political system, particularly under the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“The NRM government has given hope that a son of a peasant can become Speaker of Parliament,” he said.
He noted that changes in leadership across government institutions should be seen as normal governance dynamics rather than disruption.
Turning to the new PLU Secretary General, Oboth cautioned that the office carried responsibility and should not be treated as ceremonial.
“You are not inheriting a title, you are inheriting a trust. This is not an office, it is a commission,” he said. “You are not to be a ceremonial Secretary General. You are to be an engine of transformation.”
He emphasised that PLU, as a pressure group aligned to the NRM, must actively support government development priorities and contribute to national transformation efforts.
The Speaker also warned against internal divisions, saying cohesion was critical to the organisation’s survival.
“Unity is not a slogan, it is a weapon. There are no splinter groups within PLU. Its survival depends on cohesion,” he said.
He urged leaders to ensure the organisation remains effective at grassroots level, where its impact would be most visible.
“The pressure group must be felt at the grassroots,” he said.
A significant part of his address focused on corruption, which he described as one of Uganda’s most pressing governance challenges.
“Corruption is the biggest problem we have,” he said, warning against practices such as land grabbing, embezzlement and abuse of public office.
“There should be no scandals involving PLU members in any form of corruption,” he added.
He further stressed that government opportunities should be used responsibly, arguing that failure often stems from individual conduct rather than system limitations.
“President Museveni has given us opportunities to thrive. We can only blame ourselves if we fail,” he said.
Oboth also called for inclusivity within PLU, saying it should remain open to all Ugandans.
“PLU is for everyone. Every Ugandan should be a member,” he said.
He concluded by urging Twalla and his team to prioritise discipline, results and collaboration with state institutions.
The ceremony was also addressed by PLU Vice Chairperson Michael Nuwagira Kaguta, who called for unity, forgiveness and stronger coordination as the organisation expands.
Nuwagira acknowledged early challenges in building the structure and apologised to members who may have felt excluded during its formation.
“If there were mobilisers who were disappointed, please forgive us,” he said.
He praised outgoing Secretary General David Kabanda for laying the administrative foundation of PLU and commended members who contributed resources to ensure the success of the ceremony.
