Kadaga takes on Oulanyah
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah. PHOTOS/ FILE
What you need to know:
- Concerning talk that she needs to give way for her deputy with a view that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the NRM decided in 2016 to maintain a status quo, Ms Kadaga challenged the narrative, saying that agreement was not binding.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga yesterday launched her bid for the third term in office, setting stage for the race.
At the launch of her re-election campaign at Speke Resort, Munyonyo in Kampala, Ms Kadaga attacked her critics, specifically Mr Oulanyah whom she accused of not performing.
The Speaker said lies have been peddled against her by competitors who portray her as a non-performer or someone who is not loyal to the NRM.
Ms Kadaga accused Mr Oulanyah of running away from presiding over the age limit debate and has since turned hostile to her assignments.
The age limit Bill, which saw Parliament remove Article 102(b) of the Constitution, was passed in December 2017 and it paved way to President Museveni seeking re-election in 2021.
“There are some liars in NRM who say I don’t like the Movement. For those who were in Parliament, you saw how tense the situation was during the age limit (debate). I was in America and then passed through London to accompany the Teso people because their cultural leader was visiting. My deputy called me saying there was something he couldn’t handle,” Ms Kadaga said.
She added :“I came straight into fire. The chairs were flying. My deputy run away out of the country. ”
Ms Kadaga said since then, Mr Oulanyah has been dodging assignments.
The Speaker said he refused to chair the House in December 2019 when Uganda was hosting the East African Parliamentary games and also during the consideration of the Sugar Bill, which she had wanted to distance from due to conflict of interest as a person from the sugarcane growing region of Busoga.
Ms Kadaga said the decision to keep chairing alone was reached after Mr Oulanyah in December 2019 and January 2020 refused to take a similar assignment.
“In December he wrote to me that he was going away and in January I was supposed to be in Canada (but) he told me he was going to Germany. We have no business with Germany as Parliament. I cancelled my trips to Bahrain and Iran, I said let me stay because for three months he has not worked,” she said.
Although Ms Kadaga invited 150 to the official launch of her campaigns, about 100 turned up.
Kadaga’s campaign team is headed by Isingiro South MP Alex Byarugaba Bakunda as National Chairman and is being deputised by newly elected MP for Okoro County, Mr Gabriel Okumu.
Ms Kadaga has also appointed some of the Opposition MPs to play a key role in her bid to win the third term.
In 2013, Mr Oulanyah told a KFM talkshow that he felt he was being used by Ms Kadaga to oversee the passing of controversial laws.
He said one such incident involved the passing of the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Bill, 2012. Mr Oulanyah said one time he had just arrived in the country from the US on the eve of the voting on the Bill in November 2012 when he got a call from Ms Kadaga.
“I arrived at Entebbe at about 11pm, then my security tells me the Speaker wants to talk to me. I picked up the call then she said, ‘Honourable Oulanyah, chair the House tomorrow’. My feet were swollen. I said madam, what is the issue? She said I have finished with the oil Bill, just come and process the voting.”
On CEC decision
Concerning talk that she needs to give way for her deputy with a view that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the NRM decided in 2016 to maintain a status quo, Ms Kadaga challenged the narrative, saying that agreement was not binding.
“The CEC of 2015 is an old CEC. It did its work and finished. Last year another CEC came in and it has not yet sat. All I said was why are you pushing me out?” Ms Kadaga said before warning that there are people who are using the State House switch board to call newly elected MPs telling them that the President has taken a decision on who should be elected Speaker.
“These people who are using the switch board of State House saying the President has directed. This is not right. The President has not directed anything and when you receive those calls, tell them you want to speak to the President,” she said.
The CEC, which is chaired by Mr Museveni, is the top policy-making organ of the NRM party, and it vets who the party parliamentary caucus will front as candidate for Speaker and Deputy.
Ms Kadaga is the 2nd National Vice Chairperson (female) while Mr Oulanyah is the vice chairperson for northern region.
Mr Oulanyah’s team yesterday chose to ignore Ms Kadaga’s attacks.
Others in the race are Mr Ibrahim Ssemujuju Nganda (FDC) and Mr Richard Sebamala(DP).
Kadaga’s core team
Name Constituency position
Alex Byarugaba Bakunda Isingiro South National Chairman
Gabriel Okumu Okoro National Vice Chairman
Cecilia Ogwal Dokolo District Vice Chairperson, north
Sarah Opendi Tororo District Vice Chairperson, eastern
Bright Amooti Kyaka Central Vice Chairperson, western
Robert Migadde Buvuma Islands Vice Chairperson, central
Geofrey Macho Busia Municipality regional Whip, eastern
Joseph Ssewungu Kalungu West regional Whip, central
Donazio Kahonda Ruhinda South regional Whip, western
Gilbert Olanya Kilak South regional Whip, northern
Representatives
Rosemary Nyakikongoro Sheema District regional representative
James Kaberuka Kinkizi West regional representative
Pius Wakabi Bugahya regional representative
Anifa Kawoya Mawogola South regional representative
Herbert Kinobere Kibuku regional representative
Joyce Bagala Mityana District regional representative
Elijjah Okupa Kasilo regional representative
Susan Amero Amuria District regional representative
Loki Peter Abrahams Matheniko regional representative
Jane Okori-Moe Abim District regional representative
Charles Ayume Koboko Municipality regional representative
Betty Engola Otuke District regional representative
Okin P.P Ojara Chua West regional representative
Richard Gafabusa Bwamba County representative
Alex Ruhunda Fortportal representative
Eric Musana Buyaga east representative
Ferigo Kambale Kasese Municipality representative
Atkins Katusabe Bukonzo West representative
Barnabas Tinkansimire Buyaga west representative
Hellen Kahunde Kiryandongo District representative
Dickson Kateshumbwa Sheema Municipality representative
Noeline Basemera Kibaale District representative
Patrick Isingoma Hoima City east representative
Naome Kabasharira Rushenyi representative
Prossy Akumpurira Rubanda District representative
Roland Bish Ndyomugenyi Rukiga county representative
Sarah Mateeke Kisoro District representative
Jovanice Twinobusingye Kiruhura District representative
Mwine Mpaka Mbarara City south representative
Mourine Osoru Arua City representative
Emmanuel Ongiertho Jonam representative
Tom Aza Alero West Moyo representative
Rose Obiga Terego District representative
Peter Ochen Kapelebyong representative
Catherine Lamwaka Omoro District representative
Lucy Akello Amuru District representative
Rose Lilly Akello Karenga District representative
Sam Cheptoris Kapchorwa Mun representative
Evelyn Chemutai Bukwo District representative
Apollo Masika Bubulo east representative
Florence Namboozo Sironko District representative
Peter Werikhe Bubulo west representative
Apollo Ofwono Yeri Tororo Municipality representative
Richard Oseku Kibale representative
Denis Nyangweso Samia Bugwe central representative
Cosmas Elotu Dakabela representative
Silas Aogon Kumi Municipality representative
Jane Awichi Kaberemaido District representative
Patrick Okabe Serere County representative
Stephen Kisa Luuka South representative
Abdu Katuntu Bugweri representative
Bashir Kazibwe Kawempe South representative
Ronald Balimwezo Nakawa west representative
Teddy Nambooze Mpigi District representative
Wakayima Musoke Nansana Municipality representative
Boaz Kasirabwa Kooki County representative
