Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has written to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga in regards to the elections of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 11th Parliament.
According to State minister for ICT Peter Ogwang, Dr. Rugunda has asked Kadaga to postpone the election of Speaker to a later date to allow MPs caucus in their political parties to harmonize on the choice of their candidates for the two respective positions.
On 5th May, the Clerk to Parliament released the swearing in program of the MPs-elect of the 11th Parliament showing that the ceremonies will take place on 17th May to 20th May. Thereafter, the MPs are expected to convene on May 21 for the first sitting of parliament to elect their speaker and deputy speaker.
Ogwang said that it was imperative for Rugunda to write to Kadaga to postpone the election so that political parties can pick up their flag bearers. In his letter, Rugunda wants Kadaga to convene a parliamentary commission meeting to discuss the possibility of postponing the speakership elections.
“As you are aware the term of this government ends on May 12th, so it was imperative that the Prime Minister makes the communication within the term of office. Swearing in will end on May 20th and it is difficult to rush Members to vote the following day. With this multiparty political dispensation, political parties need a day or two to caucus before the House can convene to elect the speaker,” Ogwang said.
It remains unclear if Kadaga will honour PM Rugunda’s request to postpone the elections.
When contacted for a comment, the private press secretary to the Speaker, Sam Obbo said that he has not yet seen a copy of the Rugunda letter. He promised to crosscheck and revert.
"I also heard it from the Minister [Ogwang] last night [on NBS Frontline]. Allow me get to office and confirm," Obbo said.
The race for speakership has never been highly contested than it is this time with Kadaga pushing for a record 3rd term against immense pressure from her deputy Jacob Oulanyah, who is majorly relying on the backing of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) following the 2016 unwritten agreement that he would be speaker in 2021.
