Speakership: NRM MPs defy party on campaigning

Apr 15, 2016

The post for the Speaker of Parliament has so far attracted two aspirants.

KAMPALA - The National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs aspiring for the Speaker and deputy speaker's seat in the 10th Parliament have defied the party and continued with their campaigns.

During a recent retreat at Kyankwanzi, party leader President Yoweri Museveni told the aspirants for the two seats to stop campaigning until after the Central Executive Committee (CEC) has vetted them.

But New Vision has learnt that all the aspirants are busy crisscrossing the country canvassing for votes.

The post for the Speaker of Parliament has so far attracted two aspirants, the incumbent Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah and both are openly campaigning and throwing jabs at each other.

The deputy speaker's office has meanwhile attracted over five aspirants including Jovah Kamateeka (Mitooma Woman), Monicah Amoding (Kumi Woman MP elect), Denis Obua (Ajuri County) and a newcomer MP Abbas Agaba (Kitagwenda County).

Amoding told New Vision that every aspirant for the deputy speaker's slot is campaigning and that those who are quiet are unserious because an aspirant must engage all MPs.

New Vision also saw several messages that aspirants including Agaba are circulating to members asking them for their support. The Speaker and deputy speaker's slots are among the highly coveted in the country.

The race for the two seats is understood to pit the old-timers against the young generation, majority of whom are newcomers. The young generation want the deputy speaker's slot while the old generation wants the Speaker's.

Sources told New Vision that it's because of the demand by the young generation to take the deputy speaker's slot that Oulanyah is insisting on challenging Kadaga for Speaker.

 

 

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