Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has rejected a closed-door decision by NRM executives to ring-fence the 10th Parliament Speaker job for incumbent Rebecca Kadaga.
The NRM Caucus, which is numerically larger and comprises all Members of Parliament elected on the NRM party ticket, is scheduled to meet at State House in Entebbe, tomorrow to decide whether to maintain the status quo where Ms Kadaga remains the Speaker deputised by Mr Oulanyah.
The party’s Central Executive Committee, meeting at State House Entebbe up to midnight yesterday, had resolved that the current leadership be upheld in order not to polarise the 10th Parliament.
Hours after the resolution, Mr Oulanyah refused to budge and after a meeting with some of his supporters announced that he would run for Speaker “come rain or come shine”.
He held a follow up meeting with President Museveni, the national party chairman who presided over the nine-hour Monday meeting, but details of their discussions were not available by press time.
Whereas the Speakership is, for now, a two-horse race between Kadaga and Oulanyah, the Deputy Speaker position has attracted seven contestants. The party CEC resolved to re-open closed nominations for the crowded slot to enable Oulanyah register but he had not done so by press time.
Sources that attended the CEC meeting said the proposal to maintain the status quo was fronted by Hajji Moses Kigongo, the National Vice Chairman, and supported by Mr Sam Engola, the party’s vice-chairman (North), and Haji Abdul Nadduli (vice-chairman, Buganda).
The meeting also grilled Ms Kadaga, faulting her for opening a war of words with CEC members taking exception that she drew the first blood when she branded Mr Oulanyah as a “greedy and arrogant man”.
Sources at the CEC meeting told Daily Monitor that Ms Kadaga was also questioned over claims that she fraternises with Opposition MPs and her quarrels with the media.
It is reported that Ms Kadaga apologised and promised to work with Oulanyah. Ms Kadaga reportedly told CEC that she attacked her deputy because she was “under pressure” to defend her job and that she was “not breathing”. She also accused her opponents of using the media to fight her.
The President who is the NRM chairman, however, apologised for taking long to intervene and promised to reconcile the two principals as soon as possible. When Ms Kadaga and Mr Oulanyah were called to CEC for counselling, members asked the two leaders to “bury the hatchet and move on”.
NRM electoral commission chairman Tanga Odoi, who attended CEC meeting, confirmed that the bickering between the duo was discussed with CEC and resolving that Mr Museveni should mediate the talks.
Mr Odoi said the NRM Caucus will take the final decision on the duo tomorrow.
“The chairman of the party will sit them down and talk to them. They were not reprimanded because it is a learning process,”Mr Odoi said.
Yesterday, Ms Kadaga was in celebratory mood, telling MPs from the Bugisu sub-region that CEC endorsed her to retain the Speaker’s job.
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