Kamuli District Woman MP Rebecca Kadaga has formally applied to the Electoral Commission of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) expressing her interests to stand for the office of Speaker of the 11th Parliament.
Kadaga, who was sworn in yesterday for another term, was received by the party’s chairperson of the Electoral Commission Tanga Odoi.
Speaking at party headquarters, Kadaga promised to ensure that the works of parliament are independent so that they can benefit the people at the grass-root level.
“I will carry on from where she stopped in the previous parliament if elected speaker again,” she said.
On Monday, CEC chaired by National Chairman of the ruling party, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni resolved that the election of the speaker and deputy speaker of the 11th parliament will take place on 24th May 2021. The election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is scheduled to be held at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
They also resolved that eligible Party candidates will go through the party’s election body before being endorsed by CEC. This according to political analysts, peddled at cooling off political pressure created by Rebecca Kadaga and Jacob Oulanyah who are vying for the same position.
Kadaga, who has been in parliament since 1989, now awaits the decision of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) top organ, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) to endorse her or any other candidate.
According to article 81(4) of this Constitution, no business shall be transacted in Parliament other than an election to the office of Speaker at any time that office is vacant. Article 82 (2), the Speaker and Deputy Speaker shall be elected by members of Parliament from among their number. A person shall not be qualified to be elected a Speaker or Deputy Speaker if he or she is a Vice President or a Minister.
The deputy and Speaker of Parliament is mandated to carry out a number of duties, and key among them include presiding at any sitting of the House, preserving order and decorum in the House and making pronouncements on questions of order and practice.
