Thomas Tayebwa, government Whip, has been nominated by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party to run for deputy speaker.
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has picked government Chief Whip, Thomas Tayebwa as their flagbearer for the forthcoming deputy speakership elections.
In a party parliamentary caucus meeting held at the Kololo independence grounds on Thursday, Tayebwa came out unopposed after his contenders pulled out of the race.
“Thank you colleagues for endorsing me unopposed for Deputy Speaker on NRM ticket,” Tayebwa rushed out to Twitter to express his joy.
Tayebwa will now come to toes with National Unity Platform’s Okot P’Bitek Moses who was on Thursday endorsed as the opposition flagbearer for the same position.
Earlier on, the opposition also voted JEEMA president Asuman Basaalirwa as their flag bearer for the Speakership position. He managed 49 votes against Jonathan Odur’s 20 in a secret ballot vote.
Basaalirwa will now compete with Hon Anita Among who was on Wednesday endorsed on the party ticket. Among was chosen as NRM’s party flag bearer beating off competition from 12 other members.
Parliament will on Friday converge at the Kololo main grounds to vote for their next speaker in a session officiated by Chief Justice Owiny Dollo.
In a statement released earlier this week, Thomas Tayebwa the government Chief Whip noted that all legislators will need to undertake a Covid19 test and only those in possession of test results will be allowed to access the premises.
“All members are required to undertake a Covid-19 test. This procedure will take place on Tuesday 22nd March 2022, 9:00 am- 4:00 pm and Wednesday 23rd March 2022, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon, at Parliamentary Conference Hall.
“Only members who will have taken this test with the prescribed service provider at the Parliamentary Conference Hall will attend the caucus,” Tayebwa’s notice read.
This comes at a time when the late Speaker of the 11th Parliament Jacob Oulanyah’s body is yet to arrive in the country for burial. Parliament however reiterates that all burial proceedings can only go one once a new Speaker is elected.
Article 82(4) of the Constitution of Uganda provides that no business shall be transacted in Parliament other than an election to the office of Speaker at any time that office is vacant. With this Parliament says burial arrangements will be read out after electing Oulanyah’s replacement.
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