{After beating off competition for the position of Speaker from her deputy, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, Ms Rebecca Kadaga on Friday took to the dancing floor in a popular night club in Kampala with MPs who backed her for the top job. }
Her campaign taskforce that has been involved in weeks of lobbying and campaigning – sometimes with bare knuckles – organised the party to celebrate their win.
Ms Kadaga is set to be elected the Speaker of 10th Parliament after the ruling NRM endorsed her for the much sought-after position ahead of Mr Oulanyah who had appeared determined to vie for the post.
According to Ms Kadaga, this will be her last term as the Speaker of Parliament. She had earlier served 10 years as Deputy Speaker.
Before the declaration was made by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) to maintain the status quo — Ms Kadaga as the Speaker and Mr Jacob Oulanyah her deputy, the two went for each other’s neck in ugly spats.
Despite being a popular choice for both sides of the august House, Ms Kadaga was still subjected to the rigours of her party (NRM) internal clearance, a move her supporters claimed was uncalled for.
However, all that didn’t stop her from unwinding last night (Friday) in the best way she knows — dancing.
Just minutes to 11pm, Ms Kadaga arrived and was in the house—Guvnor. The nightclub that is located on First Street, Industrial Area is one Kampala’s most popular nightspots. By then several MPs were already grooving waiting for her.
Upon her arrival, she didn’t waste time and hit the dancing floor where she did several paka chini strokes, took selfies, did “high-five” and plenty of hugs with her supporters, mainly the MPs.
Her energy was high. Dance moves commendable and composure admirable.
Nearly 35 minutes later, her deputy, Mr Oulanyah, arrived amid ululation. He hit the dance floor where Ms Kadaga was jigging, mobbed by MPs. Smiling broadly, he slapped her palms as if to say we are one and greatest of friends.
By 1am, the Speaker seemed to have had enough and left. Shortly thereafter, Mr Oulanyah also left, leaving legislators, some of whom were just arriving to take his place on the dance floor.
When asked what the celebration was about, Mr Isaac Isanga Musumba, former State minister for Regional Foreign Affairs, said: “This is a unity dance.”
He continued: “We are celebrating the nomination of Ms Kadaga for the position of Speaker. And all the MPs are here to celebrate in unity.”
The same view was expressed by MPs Denis Hamson Obua and Chris Baryomunsi, who both said the occasion was to celebrate the nomination of the two Parliament principals—Ms Kadaga and Mr Oulanyah.
On his way out when Sunday Monitor asked Mr Oulanyah what the occasion is, he sighed briefly, raised his eye brow, smiled and then moved on with a procession that was seeing him out.
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