The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has kicked off the process of getting its flag bearer for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 11th Parliament.
According to the Deputy Vice chairman representing Buganda region Godfrey Kiwanda, CEC will start its meeting by enacting regulations governing elections of speakers including at lower councils.
Last month, the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda petitioned the Parliamentary commission through the office of the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga asking for postponement of the election of the speaker and deputy speaker of the 11th parliament. The election of the speaker and deputy speaker of parliament was slated to take place on 21st May, a week after the swearing in of the MPs. The swearing in of MPs kicked off today.
The hotly contested speakership race is between Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah. Others contesting for the office of the speaker of parliament include; Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Semujju Nganda and Rakai District Woman MP Juliet Kinyamatama.
Currently Kadaga and Oulanyah are in a cold war hurling insults at each other. Last month, Kadaga labeled her deputy a coward, noting that during the age limit debate Oulanyah called her and said there was something he couldn’t handle and she came in straight into fire as the Deputy ran away.
In retaliation the deputy speaker said his boss lost support and she should not be campaigning if she has support of the 300 MPs as she alleges.
Last year at a conflict resolution meeting at State House which was attended by both Kadaga, Oulanyah and other top party wigs that was presided over by Museveni, Oulanyah affirmed to the head of state that come rain or sunshine, he was going to challenge Kadaga and nobody would compel him to quit the race.
In March 2021, Kiboga district woman MP Ruth Nankabirwa was dragged into Kadaga-Oulanyah row on the floor of parliament after some members claimed that she was campaigning for the deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah.
Nankabirwa denied the claims saying she was just reminding MPs of the 2016 CEC resolution to the effect that Kadaga was to serve only ten years and pass on the baton to Oulanyah.
