{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: Museveni to NRM CEC: Here’s the speaker I want

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/43970-museveni-to-nrm-cec-here-s-the-speaker-i-want

Here's the speaker I want

Written by Edris Kiggundu

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah

Behind closed doors on April 24, President Museveni dropped hints on the qualities of the speaker who should steer the 10th Parliament.

The ruling NRM, the president said, during the Sunday Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, should elect a speaker who will not fight the executive. According to sources who attended the meeting at State House Entebbe, the president said he needed someone he can work with "not to fight with" to realize his vision of turning Uganda into a middle-income country by 2020.

Museveni told CEC members that his vision for the next five years is simple and will centre on increasing people's income by boosting the various wealth creation funds such as the Youth Livelihood project, the women's fund, the innovation fund and Naads.

He said it was not necessary for contestants to attack each other because after the election, they have to work together. As the president talked, some members started murmuring. Our source said pro-Speaker Rebecca Kadaga CEC members said the statements favoured Jacob Oulanyah, the deputy speaker who is vying to replace Kadaga. Over the last five years, Speaker Kadaga has clashed with Museveni on a couple of occasions.

But in speech, Museveni was categorical that he did not support any candidate ahead of the other. He warned those using his name to promote their bids to stop. He said he is like a father in a home who cannot favour one child at the expense of another.

"They should stop [using my name] immediately. I am a president for everyone," the president reportedly said.

Museveni said in neighbouring Kenya, former president Daniel Toroitich arap Moi made the mistake of handpicking people to run the affairs of the Kenya African National Union (Kanu). In the end, he said, divisions and intrigue festered, leading to the collapse of the party that had ruled Kenya from independence till 2002.

"This was a big mistake which I cannot repeat. I cannot support one leader because they are all cadres of the movement," he said.

Museveni who is also the chairman of CEC, the second-highest organ of the party, said he did not want to put the party's future at stake. 

PROCESS STARTS

Meanwhile on Wednesday, the NRM electoral commission started receiving "letters of expression of interest" from candidates seeking to occupy the positions of speaker and deputy speaker.

Tanga Odoi, the chairperson of the commission, said they would not hesitate to punish anyone who violates the regulations.

"The games are over. I don't want to see these insults in the media. You do it, I will disqualify you," Odoi said.

Jacob Oulanyah, the deputy speaker who wants to unseat Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, delivered his letter at the NRM headquarters at Kyadondo at 1:21pm on Wednesday. Oulanyah was accompanied by Godfrey Kiwanda, the Mityana North MP, who is his chief campaign manager.

Oulanyah said he is seeking the top parliamentary job because "the office is vacant." By press time, Kadaga was still out of the country but sources told us that one of her assistants delivered the letter of expression.

Those who expressed interest in the position of deputy speaker are: Abbas Agaba (Kitagwenda MP-elect), Monicah Amoding (Kumi woman MP-elect), Hamson Dennis Obua  (Ajuri MP) and Jovah Kamateeka (Mitooma Woman MP).

Agaba said yesterday he was an accomplished leader who has served the country and NRM in various capacities.

"I want to put this experience to the service of parliament such that we can build a better country," he said.

Obua said given the experience he has gathered over time, he had the capability to be the custodian of the institution of Parliament.

Kamateeka said: "I have a good understanding of the law and I have the character to chair parliamentary session."

ekiggundu@observer.ug

Museveni to NRM CEC: Here's the speaker I want 

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/43970-museveni-to-nrm-cec-here-s-the-speaker-i-want

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