NRM CEC to Vet Kadaga, Oulanyah for Speakership ahead of First Sitting

The NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) will on May 22nd meet to vet Party candidates vying for the position of speaker and deputy speaker of the 11th parliament.

The decision to vet candidates was concluded during the Monday CEC meeting which also extended the term of office of the executive committees of all NRM structures, special interest groups and the specially nominated members of CEC for 6 months from 20th May to 20th November.

CEC agreed that the NRM Electoral Commission headed by Dr. Tanga Odoi will today (Tuesday) start receiving applications from candidates who seek to contest for the two respective positions. Subsequently, CEC will convene again to vet the contenders on May 22nd before the names are forwarded to the NRM caucus which is expected to sit on Sunday, 23rd May.

The first sitting of the 11th Parliament will take place on May 24th where the MPs are expected to elect their speaker and deputy speaker.

In the NRM Party, contenders for speaker are Rebecca Kadaga and Jacob Oulanyah, while contenders for deputy speaker are; Anita Among, Thomas Tayebwa, David Bahati, Jacob Oboth Oboth and Robina Rwakoojo.

All eyes have been gazed on Rebecca Kadaga who will return to face NRM CEC which she had earlier on undermined as a ‘non-starter’ in determining affairs of Parliament. While chairing plenary on March 10th, 2021, Kadaga underestimated the importance of NRM CEC which is the top decision making organ in the party structures.

“I do not think the CEC has a right to bind a future Parliament before its members are even elected. That is totally undemocratic. Stop talking about CEC here. We are talking about issues of the House,” Kadaga said on March 10th. Kadaga now has no option, but to be vetted by the same CEC that she undermined several times.

She was responding to her rival's statement made while appearing on NBS TV in March.Mr Oulanyah said it would be his party to decide.