Why Ugandans Want Robinah Rwakoojo to be the Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament

Gomba West Member of Parliament Robina Gureme Rwakoojo has officially declared her intentions to contest for the position of Deputy Speaker Parliament of Uganda.

Rwakoojo vowed to improve the debating skills of fellow legislators once elected for the mentioned position.

Robina, who served in the Ministry of Justice for over two decades, promised to strengthen political debate and deliberative discourse in the House.

“Vote for someone who has integrity, who is impartial and who will improve the quality of debate in Parliament ,” Robina said on Tuesday in a phone interview.

Her remarks come against the backdrop of public concern over the level and quality of argumentation of the parliamentary debates in Uganda.

Robina said her solid legal background together with her experience in Parliament “give me confidence that I can handle this office (Deputy Speaker) well.”

“When you look at the experience that I have, it is super and it will fit very well in the role of Deputy Speaker,” she emphasised.

Robina rose from the position of pupil state Attorney to Commissioner and later Acting Director Civil Litigation at the Ministry of Justice.

The 2020 Parliament Scorecard underscored the need to increase appreciation by citizens of the constitutional function of Parliament, the role of an MP, and the day to day operations of the House of Parliament in general.

Robina, who hails from Robert Kyagulanyi’s birthplace of Gomba, overpowered the so-called ‘NUP wave’ in the recently-concluded 2021 polls.

The emergence of Rwakoojo now introduces a new dynamic into a contest many observers had initially viewed as straightforward.

A lawyer by profession and Advocate of the Courts of Judicature, Rwakoojo enters the race carrying a reputation built on years of legal and parliamentary service.

Supporters describe her as sounded, disciplined, and profoundly enlightened in constitutional and legislative affairs, qualities they argue are indispensable for presiding over parliamentary business at a time when the country continues to debate major governance and accountability issues.Her public service record stretches back more than two decades in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

Robina graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Law from Makerere University. She finished her Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Law Development Centre and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration and Management from Uganda Management Institute.

Robina was a Pupil State Attorney for the Administrator General’s Department under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 1990 – 1992 and within the same organization, she became the State Attorney from 1992 – 1995.

She became the Senior State Attorney for the Administrator General’s Department under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 1995 – 1996. And for the Directorate of Legal Advisory Services under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, she was ( a Senior State Attorney from 1996 – 1999 and she later became the Principal State Attorney 1999 – 2003).

She became the Principal State Attorney for the Directorate of Civil Litigation under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 2003 – 2007. She became the Acting Head, for the Directorate of Civil Litigation under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 2007 – 2008. Rwakoojo became the Acting Director Civil Litigation for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 2008 – 2013. She became the Commissioner Line Ministries for the Directorate of Civil Litigation under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 2010 – 2015. In 2016, she won the Seat for being the Representative Member of Parliament for Gomba West County in Gomba District in the tenth Parliament of Uganda. She was re-elected for the same seat in 2021.

She sat on the committee for Appointments, and was Chair of Legal & Parliamentary Affairs in the eleventh parliament of Uganda. She served as the vice-chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Committee in the tenth parliament.She was also appointed to head the select committee by Parliament on the directive of Speaker Rebecca Kadaga which investigated allegations of sexual violence and harassment in schools, universities and tertiary institutions.

Since joining Parliament in the 10th Parliament, she has maintained a visible presence in legal and legislative oversight work, first as Deputy Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and later as the committee’s chairperson during the 11th Parliament.

Colleagues familiar with her work say her experience handling sensitive constitutional matters has strengthened her standing among lawmakers seeking a leader capable of managing debate impartially while maintaining firm command of parliamentary procedure.

Beyond her professional credentials, Rwakoojo’s candidacy is also drawing attention because of its possible implications for regional political balancing within the country’s leadership structure.

Coming from Gomba District in the Buganda region, her supporters believe she could attract backing from legislators interested in broader representation within top government positions as discussions around power sharing continue to shape political alignments.

Her entry into the race also arrives against the backdrop of shifting alliances within Uganda’s political landscape.

The development follows the recent endorsement of West Budama North East MP Jacob Oboth Oboth for the Speakership by the Patriotic League of Uganda.

That silence has fueled further speculation and widened the field for potential contenders.

Inside Parliament, conversations surrounding the next leadership team are expected to intensify in the coming weeks as newly elected legislators settle into political camps ahead of the formal election of parliamentary leaders.

Analysts say the Deputy Speaker contest could become one of the defining political battles of the transition into the 12th Parliament, especially if more candidates emerge or existing alliances shift.

For Rwakoojo, the challenge ahead will involve converting her legal credentials and parliamentary experience into broader political support across party and regional lines. Yet her supporters remain confident that her record, combined with her composed leadership style, positions her as a serious contender capable of reshaping the race.

As political negotiations continue behind closed doors, her declaration has already injected fresh energy into the contest and underscored the growing uncertainty surrounding the leadership structure of Uganda’s next Parliament.