Ogenga head of opposition
May 18, 2006
FDC has elected Agago MP Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo (above) as leader of opposition in Parliament.<br>Latigo defeated Kyadondo East MP Sam Njuba in the elections held last evening at the FDC headquarters.
By Joyce Namutebi
and Charles Etukuri
FDC has elected Agago MP Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo (above) as leader of opposition in Parliament.
Latigo defeated Kyadondo East MP Sam Njuba in the elections held last evening at the FDC headquarters. Latigo got 43 votes against Njuba’s 19. But party president Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye did not vote. By press time the party was yet to elect the opposition chief whip in Parliament.
As leader of opposition in Parliament, Latigo is at the status of a Cabinet minister and will be entitled to state facilities and privileges granted to a minister. FDC is the second-largest party in the 8th Parliament after the NRM.
Meanwhile, Parliament meets this morning to consider a proposal by the Government to increase the number of cabinet ministers from 21 to 25. Parliament is also expected to vet Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and Prof. Apolo Nsibambi for the posts of vice-president and prime minister respectively. It will later constitute the Appointments Committee to vet other nominees.
There are 21 ministers and 44 ministers of state. Article 113 allows a maximum of 21 ministers except with the approval of Parliament. If approved, the ministers will be 70.
Sources also said last evening former minister of foreign affairs Eriya Kategaya and former East African Community Secretary General Amanya Mushega would be named ministers.
Sources said the decision to increase the number of ministers was reached after a stormy NRM Central Executive Committee meeting at the Uganda Manufacturers Association on Tuesday.
President Yoweri Museveni chaired the meeting that cited inequitable distribution of political posts.
The source said the move could be due to administrative pressure as a result of increasing the number of MPs, constituencies and districts.
“It could be that the President sees that if you have increased Parliament, the constituencies and districts, he sees he has pressure,†the source said.
The source said there was need for Uganda to appoint a minister for East Africa Community affairs to be at par with Kenya and Tanzania that have already appointed theirs.
The President recently appealed to NRM MPs who lost during the last elections not to worry saying he would give them jobs. Sources said the Cabinet could be announced after Parliament approves the motion to have more ministries.
The former Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Buena, who was endorsed as VP by the same meeting, said he was happy.
Ends
and Charles Etukuri
FDC has elected Agago MP Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo (above) as leader of opposition in Parliament.
Latigo defeated Kyadondo East MP Sam Njuba in the elections held last evening at the FDC headquarters. Latigo got 43 votes against Njuba’s 19. But party president Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye did not vote. By press time the party was yet to elect the opposition chief whip in Parliament.
As leader of opposition in Parliament, Latigo is at the status of a Cabinet minister and will be entitled to state facilities and privileges granted to a minister. FDC is the second-largest party in the 8th Parliament after the NRM.
Meanwhile, Parliament meets this morning to consider a proposal by the Government to increase the number of cabinet ministers from 21 to 25. Parliament is also expected to vet Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and Prof. Apolo Nsibambi for the posts of vice-president and prime minister respectively. It will later constitute the Appointments Committee to vet other nominees.
There are 21 ministers and 44 ministers of state. Article 113 allows a maximum of 21 ministers except with the approval of Parliament. If approved, the ministers will be 70.
Sources also said last evening former minister of foreign affairs Eriya Kategaya and former East African Community Secretary General Amanya Mushega would be named ministers.
Sources said the decision to increase the number of ministers was reached after a stormy NRM Central Executive Committee meeting at the Uganda Manufacturers Association on Tuesday.
President Yoweri Museveni chaired the meeting that cited inequitable distribution of political posts.
The source said the move could be due to administrative pressure as a result of increasing the number of MPs, constituencies and districts.
“It could be that the President sees that if you have increased Parliament, the constituencies and districts, he sees he has pressure,†the source said.
The source said there was need for Uganda to appoint a minister for East Africa Community affairs to be at par with Kenya and Tanzania that have already appointed theirs.
The President recently appealed to NRM MPs who lost during the last elections not to worry saying he would give them jobs. Sources said the Cabinet could be announced after Parliament approves the motion to have more ministries.
The former Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Buena, who was endorsed as VP by the same meeting, said he was happy.
Ends