President Yoweri Museveni appointed Hamson Obua as Government Chief Whip last month. He taken up his new office on Wednesday.
The newly appointed Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua Wednesday officially obtained rights to take up his new office following last month’s appointment by President Yoweri Museveni.
In an official handover held at the Parliament, Hamson Obua was handed over his new office by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who previously served in the position before the death of the late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah saw him being elected to second in command in the August house.
Others present at the handover were Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, Commissioners and Members of Parliament.
In his speech, Obua said during his tenure, he will look to work closely with all parties and also all staff to keep pace with the work in a bid to ensure the smooth running of the Parliament.
“In the next one week, I want to apportion time to organize meetings and set the journey right from the beginning. I will hold meetings with the NRM Parliamentary Caucus and with the staff of the office of the Government Chief Whip,” Hamson Obua said.
On Tayebwa’s side, he promised to extend all his necessary support and advice to Hamson Obua to ensure his stay in office is not only a success but also beneficial to the House.
“We shall give you all the necessary support but I advise you to maintain humility. My success as a Government Chief Whip was by being humble. When you humble yourself before your colleagues, they will easily work with you,” Tayebwa said.
He, however, tipped him to work closely with the ministers to ensure they conduct Parliamentary duties as they should despite their busy schedules.
Tayeebwa also urged Obua to be welcoming to the opposition and their ideas. He reminded many bills have been passed in Parliament following their advice.
“You have to coordinate very well with the ministers so that they can extract Parliament business from the statements they present to Cabinet,” Tayeebwa said.
“We were able to pass the oil Bills because of this. The Leader of the Opposition came to my office for three days working till late because he knew I respected him. He knows that when it requires me to go to his office, I will,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hamson Obua, formerly the Sports minister for State was appointed the government Chief Whip in Parliament by President Yoweri Museveni in a list that also saw DP’s Norbert Mao appointed Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Others appointed were Beatrice Akello Akori the Woman Member of Parliament for Agago who was appointed the Minister of State for Economic Monitoring Office of the President.
While Peter Ogwang was appointed Minister of State for Education and Sports replacing Hamson Obua.
