KAMPALA, UGANDA — Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth has given ROKO Construction a strict 10-month deadline to complete the long-delayed construction of the new Parliamentary Chambers by June 30, 2027.

The Speaker made the announcement during yesterday’s plenary sitting, following an inspection of the New Chamber site by the Parliamentary Commission on August 26, 2026.

Oboth said the Commission had resolved to impose a firm completion deadline after reviewing the progress of the project and the factors responsible for previous delays.

ROKO officials who attended the meeting with the Commission and project consultants reportedly committed in writing to deliver the project by the new deadline.

“The completion of the Chamber shall be achieved by June 30th, 2027. The contractor has made a commitment in writing, and we shall closely monitor execution to ensure this deadline is strictly honoured,” Oboth told Parliament.

The Speaker said the site inspection and subsequent meeting examined the causes of delays, including structural design modifications introduced by the Parliamentary Commission and cash-flow constraints faced by the contractor.

He warned that Parliament would no longer tolerate further delays and directed that implementation of the project be closely monitored.

The new parliamentary complex has been under construction for several years but has faced repeated delays, raising concerns over project costs, timelines and accountability.

Oversight committees to work through recess

In a separate directive, Oboth announced that chairpersons and members of parliamentary accountability committees will not proceed on recess.

Although general plenary sittings will pause, the oversight committees have been directed to remain operational to clear a backlog of financial and legislative business.

The Speaker said the move is intended to strengthen Parliament’s oversight role and ensure that accountability work continues even when the House is not in plenary.

Parliament marks 100 days of 12th Parliament

The announcement came as the 12th Parliament marked 100 days in office, with Parliament highlighting its legislative and oversight work during the first phase of its mandate.

During its first 100 days and 25 plenary sittings, Parliament constituted the Parliamentary Commission and committee leadership, administered 553 oaths, passed two Bills, adopted two reports and passed 15 resolutions.

The House also handled 233 questions during Prime Minister’s Time, answered 123 urgent questions, considered 19 ministerial statements and received six statements from the Leader of the Opposition.

Parliament has also reopened its gates and doors to journalists, restoring broader media access to parliamentary proceedings as part of efforts to promote institutional openness and public scrutiny.

The 12th Parliament has presented its first 100 days as the beginning of an agenda focused on proactive oversight, institutional openness and fiscal accountability.

However, the new deadline for the Parliamentary Chambers now places ROKO Construction under renewed pressure to deliver the long-delayed project within a clearly defined timeframe.