Ogwal hails Museveni

May 14, 2006

FORMER Lira municipality MP Cecilia Ogwal has hailed President Yoweri Museveni and outgoing Speaker Edward Ssekandi for tolerating her divergent views.

By Felix Osike
FORMER Lira municipality MP Cecilia Ogwal has hailed President Yoweri Museveni and outgoing Speaker Edward Ssekandi for tolerating her divergent views.
Ogwal, who lost to Jimmy Akena, former president Milton Obote’s son, in the February 23 parliamentary elections, said she was happy that in the president’s agenda, reconciliation would be important.
“We are all Ugandans. My interest is in Uganda. I thank him (President Museveni) for having tolerated me in the manner that I have pushed my case for multipartyism,” Ogwal told Parliament on Thursday before it was dissolved.
Ssekandi said the 7th Parliament had prepared ground for multipartyism to thrive.
He said pluralism failed in the past because of intolerance. He said he had learnt to manage people of divergent views.
Ogwal said she was delighted to see both the NRM and opposition MPs agreeing on the legislation creating the post of an official opposition leader in the 8th Parliament.
“This has been my greatest joy,” she said, adding that she hoped the young democracy which the multipartyists fought for since the Constituent Assembly days would be nurtured.
She described Ssekandi as “one of the most politically-mature citizens” and said she wished to be his campaign manager in the next Parliament.
Outgoing Premier Apolo Nsibambi paid glowing tribute to Ssekandi and his deputy Rebecca Kadaga, saying they had performed exceptionally well.
He described Ssekandi as “diligent, versatile and extremely knowledgeable.”
Former Gulu municipality MP Norbert Mao urged the 8th Parliament to consolidate peace in the north.
Oyam North MP-elect Ben Wacha said Ssekandi handled parliamentary business with maturity and prayed that he remains the Speaker.
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