Former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has faced renewed public attention following his defeat in the parliamentary speakership election held at Kololo on Monday, where he garnered only 15 votes.
The contest ended in a decisive victory for Jacob Oboth Oboth, who secured overwhelming support from Members of Parliament, confirming his rise as the new Speaker in a race widely seen as a test of parliamentary political strength.
Reacting to the outcome, former Kampala deputy RCC Burora Herbert Anderson made a sharp statement that has since stirred debate across political and public spaces.
He used a rural comparison to contrast the two candidates, linking Mao’s loss to what he described as political “noise” versus “impact.”
“Norbert Mao like a hen, it lays one egg, that can’t feed even a one-year-old child; it makes noise for the entire village to know. But a cow that feeds a whole village, Oboth Oboth, when it gives birth, it does not make noise for the village to know. Someone tell Mao to stop behaving like a hen,” Burora said.
The remarks quickly triggered mixed reactions, with critics arguing that the language was disrespectful to a senior political figure who has served in various government and party roles over the years.
Others, however, said the statement reflected the political reality revealed by the vote, pointing to Mao’s low tally as evidence of waning influence in Parliament.
The election outcome has also reignited discussion on shifting alliances within the House, with analysts noting that Mao’s performance may signal changing dynamics among Members of Parliament ahead of the new parliamentary term.
On the other hand, Oboth Oboth’s victory has been interpreted as a strong consolidation of support within the ruling political structure, with his margin of victory seen as a clear endorsement by MPs during the Monday vote.
As reactions continue, Burora’s comments have added fresh tension to an already closely watched leadership transition in Parliament, underscoring the political divisions exposed by the speakership race.