VP To Be Named On Friday

By Okello Jabweli A VICE-PRESIDENT is likely to be named on Friday. Kigulu South MP Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe is the incumbent. Sources close to the President yesterday told The New Vision that President Yoweri Museveni, currently on a working retreat at his Kisozi farm, was also likely to name nominees for his new Cabinet next Tuesday. All the nominees, including the Vice-President, are to be vetted by Parliament. Swearing-in of members of the new (seventh) Parliament starts today and ends tomorrow. The sources that preferred anonymity said the VP nominee was to go through the approval process on Friday. Kazibwe has been VP since 1994. She was named in a major reshuffle that also saw the appointment of the retiring Kalungu East MP Kintu Musoke as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Museveni yesterday met with regional co-ordinators of the Movement Parliamentary Caucus to reach a common stand on nominees for the posts of Speaker. The National Political Commissar, Mr James Wapakhabulo and MPs Capt. Mike Mukula (Soroti Municipality), Daudi Migereko (Butembe), Kabakumba Matsiko (Bujenje), Steven Bamwanga (Ndorwa) and caucus chairman Felix Okot Ogong (Dokolo) are some of the leaders who attended yesterday's meeting. The meeting comes as a follow-up to a meeting on Saturday at which top Movement leaders reportedly advised Museveni to lobby key Movement MPs ahead of the election for Speaker and deputy Speaker. "Those are in a better position to lobby the new MPs as we head for the election of Speaker," the source said. Koboko MP Francis Ayume and his Bukoto central counterpart, Edward Ssekandi, are the out-going Speaker and deputy Speaker respectively. Both are reportedly lobbying for election to the country's third most important constitutional office. Others said to be interested in the post are Oyam North MP Ben Wacha and Kamuli Woman MP Rebecca Kadaga. "As an incumbent, Ayume's name will definitely come up along with that of Ssekandi. Gender activists are pushing for Kadaga so we balance up things," the source said. He added, "Other people are saying that since the majority of the MPs are new members, Wapakhabulo should bounce back so he can ably steer the House for at least two years." Wapakhabulo said on Sunday he was not interested in the post. Ayume yesterday sent out congratulatory message to the new MPs and thanked members of the Sixth Parliament for the support they accorded him. Ends