In a move that has sent shockwaves through Uganda’s human rights community, Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, widely known as Jacob Oboth-Oboth, was elected as the new Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament on May 25. His election has raised significant concerns among advocates who fear that his leadership may exacerbate the already dire situation for the LGBTQ community in the country.
Oboth-Oboth is no stranger to controversy. He played a pivotal role in drafting, defending, and steering Uganda’s draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) through Parliament in 2026. This law, which calls for a life sentence for consensual same-sex intimacy and the death penalty for some homosexuality-related offenses, has been widely condemned by international human rights organizations.
Oboth-Oboth’s Stance on LGBTQ Rights
During his tenure as the Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Oboth-Oboth demonstrated his staunch opposition to LGBTQ rights. He supported the recently dropped Sexual Offences Bill which initially classified same-sex acts as ‘unnatural offenses’ punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Furthermore, he advocated for the creation of a publicly accessible sex offenders registry, which would have included ‘convicted homosexuals.’
Oboth-Oboth’s rhetoric has been equally concerning. He has repeatedly argued that such laws are necessary to protect Uganda’s cultural heritage and replace what he describes as the obsolete colonial-era penal code. His statements, often made in the local language Jopadhola, have escaped widespread notice but have not gone unnoticed by human rights defenders.
The Human Rights Community’s Response
Human rights advocates have expressed deep apprehension about Oboth-Oboth’s election. Alberto, a leading human rights advocate who spoke anonymously due to the dangerous climate in Uganda, warned that Oboth-Oboth’s highly educated and organized approach to anti-rights strategy may prove to be more effective than his predecessor’s combative personality.
Frank Mugisha, the executive director of the LGBTQI+ rights group Sexual Minorities Uganda urged lawmakers under Oboth-Oboth’s leadership to repeal the AHA and uphold the constitutional rights of all Ugandans. However, given Oboth-Oboth’s track record, the prospects for such a repeal appear grim.
The Broader Context of Anti-LGBTQ Sentiment in Africa
The concerns surrounding Oboth-Oboth’s election are part of a broader trend of anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Africa. The African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty which has been held annually since 2026, has announced plans to hold two editions in 2027, one in Burkina Faso and one in Eswatini. This move signals a significant escalation in efforts to institutionalize and expand what human rights advocates describe as a growing transnational anti-rights movement.
The selection of Burkina Faso as a host country is strategically significant. As a francophone country, Burkina Faso’s participation highlights the conference’s ambition to broaden its reach and influence across the continent. The adoption of the African Charter on Family Values and Sovereignty at the 2026 conference in Accra, Ghana, further underscores this movement’s growing institutionalization and political coordination.
As Uganda and other African nations grapple with these developments, the international community watches closely, hoping for a shift towards greater respect for human rights and the rule of law.
