Two female NRM legislators seeking the speakership of the 12th Parliament have asked the party to officially invite expressions of interest from members wishing to contest for the position.
The aspirants, Lydia Wanyoto, the woman MP for Mbale City, and Akiiki Asiimwe, the woman MP for Masindi, said the election of the speaker of the 12th Parliament is scheduled for May 25 and should follow established NRM procedures.
Their remarks come days after the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), headed by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, endorsed Jacob Oboth Oboth, the West Budama Central MP, as its preferred candidate to replace former Speaker Anita Annet Among.
Despite the endorsement, the two legislators insisted that the NRM electoral commission must allow all interested party members to formally express interest in the race.
Akiiki said the party should provide a fair and level playing field for all aspirants.
“I appeal to my fellow comrades to follow the NRM procedure and express interest formally, regardless of endorsements from pressure groups or other organisations,” she said.
Akiiki also welcomed President Museveni’s reported decision to support investigations into corruption allegations involving former speaker Anita Among.
“We have complained for a long time about the lifestyle and management style of the speaker. Parliament suffered during her tenure because committee resources were mismanaged, which affected their work,” she said.
She questioned the sharp rise in parliamentary expenditure under Among compared with the tenure of Rebecca Kadaga.
Wanyoto said she respected Oboth Oboth and welcomed his entry into the race following the PLU endorsement.
“He is a good lawyer and a very experienced person. We need many people to join the race. However, I am not changing my intention. I will continue vying until the NRM Central Executive Committee and the caucus make their decision,” she said.
Wanyoto also called for amendments to the NRM constitution to prevent automatic assumptions that a Speaker should serve a second term without fresh scrutiny.
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