Following the expiration of his term, Jacob Oulanyah said goodbye to the office of the Deputy Speaker, adding that his eyes are now set on the Speaker seat.
Following the end of his term as Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah officially handed over the office as well as his official vehicle on Wednesday.
While handing over, Oulanyah assured them that it was the last time he was coming back to the same office to serve as Parliament’s number two.
“This is government’s property and I cannot continue holding onto it when I am no longer deputy speaker. I am not coming back and am going home now my term ends today,” Oulanyah said hitting that his eyes are now set on the Speaker seat.
Oulanyah who swears in today has been deputy speaker for the last 10 years. He is now vying to become the Speaker of the 11th Parliament in a race that has pitted him against Rebecca Kadaga, Ibrahim Ssemujju, and Richard Ssebamala.
For the past weeks, there has been a disagreement among members of the ruling party on who to front in the parliamentary speakership race.
In his recent interviews, Jacob Oulanyah who is vying to take over from his former boss in the 10th parliament says he is the rightful candidate after an agreement the party made in 2016 to allow Kadaga to complete her 10-year tenure.
The Kamuli District Woman MP, however, has since dismissed the claims of a 5-year old gentleman’s agreement saying that Speakership is not like herding cattle where you determine what will happen in the future.
Kadaga made the remarks on Wednesday after she had submitted her expression of interest letter for a third term for Parliament’s top office.
This meanwhile comes at a time when the Central Executive Committee, which is the top organ of the ruling party on Monday revealed that the party will make a decision on who to front through voting which will be done by secret ballot.
Addressing journalists in Kampala, the party EC Chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi urged all individuals interested in the positions of the Speaker of Parliament and that of deputy Speaker to put in writing their requests after which they will be voted for by the party caucus in a secret ballot.
“Voting shall be by secret ballot and voting by proxy shall not be allowed. The winners shall be declared on the basis of those candidates who shall obtain a simple majority of the total votes counted in the election,” Dr Tanga revealed.
He said for one to contest for any of the above positions, an aspiring candidate must be an NRM member of the 11th parliament and likewise, all voters for the above positions must be NRM members of the 11th parliament.
Dr Tanga also reminded all those vying for the positions together with the eligible voters that they shall be convened in a process that will be in line with the Ministry of Health guidelines on Covid-19.
The Commission chairman, however, said in situations when the candidates vying for one position are tied to the total votes, a recount will be called for.
“In case the first two candidates tie, the election shall be repeated. In case of any disagreement on any matter arising out of the electoral process, the returning officer’s decision shall be final.”
“Polling exercise shall start at 10am with election officials setting up the polling station and close at 2pm. Aspiring candidates shall each be given reasonable time to campaign before voting commences,” he said.
