{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: How NRM plans to oust Kadaga

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/43818-how-nrm-plans-to-oust-kadaga

How NRM plans to oust Kadaga

Written by LAWRENCE MISEGE

Jacob Oulanyah's once-discreet campaign to oust Rebecca Kadaga from retaining the speakership of parliament has finally come out of the shadows.

His 25-member team is led by Mityana North MP Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi and will campaign for him to replace his boss as speaker of the 10th parliament.

Kiwanda said team Oulanyah is composed of only NRM members because the ruling party has the majority in the house and, therefore, stands a better chance taking the day.

"Oulanyah has the experience that is required to be a speaker of parliament. We agree he has the background of the opposition, but he has proved to us that he is indeed a true and genuine member of the NRM, basing on what he has done for the party,"

Sarah Babirye Kityo, the Youth MP-elect for the Central region, said Oulanyah is a down-to-earth leader, a speaker for people, and has never shown any trait of being sectarian at any single moment.

"We want someone who is up to the task, someone who keeps time, someone who is trusted. That person is Oulanyah, and that is why majority of NRM members have decided to back him," she said.

Rebecca Kadaga (R) looks on as President Museveni addresses MPs 

The MP-elect for Arua municipality Ibrahim Abiriga told The Observer that he was excited that this time round the northern region seems to be better poised to take the speakership.

"Majority of MPs from the northern region have decided to support their son; I am also appealing to others who still have doubts in him to support him [Oulanyah]. He has exhibited mature leadership for the period he has been in the position of deputy speaker," Abiriga said.   
HOW THE MOVE STARTED

In interviews on Wednesday, several MPs familiar with the anti-Kadaga campaign provided intriguing insights on how and why the taskforce was put together behind the scenes.

One insider said NRM plans to unseat Kadaga and prop up Oulanyah began one-and-a-half years ago. At the start of 2015, according to a source, officials at the NRM secretariat reportedly sent a lawyer and MP from eastern Uganda to Kadaga with a sole mission to convince her not to seek reelection as speaker when her current term expires in May.

The emissary had a job offer of the vice presidency for Kadaga to follow in the footsteps of her predecessor Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi. Kadaga, according to the source, rejected the deal outright. She reportedly said she was more comfortable being speaker.

When she declined the VP offer, the secretariat was reportedly ordered by higher authorities to do everything possible to ensure that Oulanyah goes through as speaker.

Sam Kutesa, the Foreign Affairs minister, was also fronted as a possible candidate but was dropped because he didn't fit well into the politics of regional balancing.

When contacted yesterday, Jacob Oboth-Oboth denied ever talking to Kadaga on this matter. "I have never talked to her on that matter. That is misrepresentation of facts," he said.

Oboth, who is also in the race for deputy speaker, claims that whoever is propagating information to suggest that he approached Kadaga to woo her out of the speaker race has hidden motives. "How can I approach my senior on such sensitive matter? Whoever thinks so has political reasons," he said.

Two weeks after the February 18 general election, a meeting was reportedly held in the office of the NRM secretary general Justine Kasule Lumumba to discuss the Kadaga issue. Insider sources said the attendees included Mawokota South MP JB Lubyayi and Kiwanda.

Sources said the two gentlemen were asked to reach out to all new NRM MPs in each region and identify a taskforce that would sell Oulanyah's candidature. Interviewed for a response, Kiwanda was cagey on details but said he was named overall coordinator of the Oulanyah campaign.

"My boss Oulanyah is the one who gave me this task, and I am 100 per cent sure that we are going to come out with victory, members are determined, others are calling me from their constituencies telling me that they want to join the taskforce to ensure Oulanyah becomes the next speaker." he said.
CAUCUS PLANS

Sources familiar with last week's NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting said the committee resolved to select a party candidate for the position of speaker and deputy speaker before the inauguration of the new parliament in May.

Reports suggest that Kadaga's team wants a secret ballot but team Oulanyah is opposed to that. It is believed that a secret ballot would favour Kadaga because many NRM MPs would quietly vote for Kadaga without fear of being identified and probably punished by the party for defying its position.

"This is a very serious matter; most especially it touches on the future of this country. We want members to be counted by their words. We are going to do it by show of hands," one MP from northern Uganda, said.

A source close to Kadaga said some members of her taskforce have started talking about fronting Kadaga as an independent candidate citing unfairness in the game. 
During her appearance on CBS radio last week, Kadaga described Oulanyah as greedy for trying to unseat her yet he was a onetime UPC member.
MEMBERS ON OULANYAH TASKFORCE

Godfrey Kiwanda (Chairman)
Jovrine Kaliisa Kyomukama - Woman MP Ibanda
Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi - Buikwe North

Ruth Amule Doreen - Amolatar
Aisha Sekindi - Kalungu
Juliet Ssuubi Kyinyamatama - Rakai
Margaret Mbeiza Kisira - Kaliro

Patrick Kasumba Paddy - Bujenje
Florence Namboozo Wamala - Sironko
Evelyn Chemutai - Bukwo

Keefa Kiwanuka - Kiboga West
Michael Tumusiime - Mbarara Municipality
Innocent Kamusiime Pentagon-  Butemba

Ibrahim Abiriga - Arua Municipality
Remigio Achia - Pian
Sarah Babirye Kityo - Youth central
Jackson Kafuuzi - Kyegegwa

JB Lubyayi - Mawokota South
Moreen Osoru Arua district
Justine Ayebazibwe - Isingiro

Mwine Rwamirama - Youth Western
Omony Oska - Youth Northern
Moses Adome - Jie county
Lowila Oketayot-Pader district 

How NRM plans to oust Kadaga

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/43818-how-nrm-plans-to-oust-kadaga

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