Speaker race: Museveni preaches unity as NRM backs Oboth, Tayebwa

    ________________      

President Yoweri Museveni has called on National Resistance Movement (NRM) legislators to exercise discipline and unity as the party settled on its preferred candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament during a caucus meeting at State House, Entebbe.

The meeting saw the NRM Parliamentary Caucus adopt recommendations from the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), endorsing Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth for Speaker of Parliament and Thomas Tayebwa for Deputy Speaker.

NRM Members of Parliament raise their hands as they endorsed Hon Jacob Oboth Oboth and Hon Thomas Tayebwa as the party candidates for position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament.

While addressing newly elected Members of Parliament, President Museveni cautioned party members against excessive competition for leadership positions, saying democracy should be guided by discipline, experience and collective interest.

“When we were fighting, people did not express interest by saying they wanted to fight. You went where you were told to go. Today, because there is peace, many people are expressing interest in contesting for positions. Democracy is good, but we should be disciplined,” President Museveni said.

He urged leaders to grow through responsibility progressively instead of rushing for top positions.

“First, you need to be disciplined, start small and avoid debts,” he added.

Museveni also congratulated the newly elected MPs and thanked them for supporting him during the elections, reminding them that leadership comes with responsibility to contribute to national development.

“I want to congratulate all of you for being elected to Parliament. Secondly, I want to thank you for supporting me. You now have a chance to contribute to your country,” he said.

The President warned against identity-based politics rooted in religion and tribe, saying the NRM rejected such tendencies from the beginning. According to him, politics should instead focus on ideology and solving the problems affecting citizens.

“Politics should be about what is to be done, why it should be done and how it should be done. You start with a diagnosis of the problems of the people you are leading and then prescribe the treatment,” he noted.

He also reminded legislators that their main responsibility is improving household incomes and serving constituents rather than pursuing privileges attached to office.

During the caucus session, CEC recommended Oboth Oboth for Speaker, citing his legal expertise, leadership qualities and ability to unite members while effectively steering Parliament.

NRM MPs who stepped down in favour of Hon Oboth Oboth and Thomas Tayebwa for speaker and deputy speaker of parliament pose for a photo with President Museveni during an NRM caucus meeting at Entebbe.

The caucus later adopted the recommendation.

CEC also fronted Tayebwa for the position of Deputy Speaker, citing his parliamentary experience, institutional continuity, mobilisation skills and youthfulness.

According to the recommendations presented to the caucus, Tayebwa’s previous service as Government Chief Whip and Deputy Speaker had equipped him with extensive experience in parliamentary procedure and management of legislative affairs.

CEC further argued that his ability to mobilise party structures and communities would be important in strengthening parliamentary cooperation and building consensus.

The committee also cited his youthfulness and exposure as qualities expected to inject energy, dynamism and a fresh perspective into parliamentary leadership.

The NRM Caucus subsequently endorsed the recommendations.

All the other candidates who had expressed interest in contesting for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker stepped down in favour of Oboth Oboth and Tayebwa, respectively, in what party members described as the spirit of the NRM.