President Museveni said that he did not influence the way that the race for the Speakership of the 11th Parliament was conducted.
President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni has said he did not have any influence in how the Speakership race for the 11th Parliament was conducted.
Museveni made the remarks shortly after the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. He said the position of Speaker was decided by the Central Executive Committee after a series of discussions.
He said there has been consistency in the terms each member from the ruling party holds.
As a result, Museveni noted that CEC had to keep its image by following the norm that each Speaker from the NRM party will have not more than two terms in office.
“I rang a few people yesterday night and today morning to go with the party decision for Speakership and you can see the results. I thank the people who were initially supporting Kadaga and later changed back to the party position,” Museveni said.
“There was a very strong Oulanyah faction and another strong Kadaga faction. I as the leader of NRM did not say either in private or public who to support for the Speakership. I cannot do that. If you are a senior, you belong to everybody. Don’t take sides,” he added.
Museveni however, raised plans of how he is determined to unite with the opposition. He said unity and togetherness are some of the most instrumental aspects that will promote development not only in Uganda but in Africa as a whole.
“I am ready to engage the opposition. I talk very well with UPC and DP. Recently, I also talk to a few FDC members. The people who have refused to dialogue are those of NUP,” Museveni raised.
Museveni further spoke about how the Speaker and Deputy Speaker elections were held. He said it was a sign of democracy because there were no scenes of rigging witnessed.
Meanwhile, Omoro County Member of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah was duly elected as the new speaker of the 11th parliament beating the likes of fellow NRM big wig Rebecca Kadaga and FDC’s Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.
Oulanyah gathered 310 votes to Kadaga’s 197 votes while candidate Ssemujju trailed with 15 votes. The Omoro legislator who has been deputy Speaker for the last 10 years will now be in charge of affairs at the August House for the next five years.
