Lango sub-region MPs under their umbrella, the Lango Parliamentary Group have announced their decision to rally behind Jacob Oulanyah as the next Speaker of Parliament.
Members of Parliament from the Lango sub-region under their umbrella organisation, the Lango Parliamentary Group have announced their decision to rally behind Jacob Oulanyah to become the next Speaker of Parliament.
While addressing, a press conference on Wednesday, the group led by Kampala Minister, Betty Amongi said that it’s time for the current speaker Rebecca Kadaga to stand down from office after her 10-year tenure.
Amongi also reminded that the decision was taken based on parliament’s unwritten tradition and not based on regional or tribal differences as claimed by some colleagues.
“We think it is important to respect the unwritten tradition of parliament , Kadaga served for two terms as deputy speaker and now two terms as speaker , the same with Ssekandi who served for two terms as speaker and moved to become VP,” Amongi reminded.
The Kampala Minister who was in the company of 14 other legislators said that out of 32 legislators from the Lango sub-region, 21 have agreed to side with Oulanyah claiming that it’s his turn to hold the Speakership duties.
The Maruzi county MP Maxwell Akora who was also present at the presser mentioned that they are ready to back Kadaga for the deputy speakership role if she accepts to pave way for Oulanyah.
“We plead with the appointing authority to consider Kadaga for the vice president’s role because she has enough experience to rise to the country’s number two,” Akora said.
This comes after 18 legislators from the Acholi sub-region earlier on also announced their decision to back Oulanyah for the top post justifying that he is the speaker the house has been vying for.
Meanwhile, as the struggle for the speakership position takes another level, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda the Kira Municipality Member of Parliament also earlier this week declared his intention to aspire for the top post in the 11th Parliament.
While addressing journalists on Tuesday, Ssemujju assured that unlike the past speakers, he will be an equal voice for both the opposition and those in government.
He urged the opposition to rally behind him because he has been in parliament long enough to learn how the house operates.
“Iam going to be a speaker of Parliament and a speaker of Ugandans. I have told them that as opposition, we will be asked to provide an alternative on everything that happens. It will be terrible if we assemble here on the first day to cheer the NRM. I am asking for their support,” Ssemujju assured.
“It is these good tactics that I have learnt over a period of 20 years both as a journalist and MP that I want to employ to make parliament greater,” he added.
